The lack of production from tight end Trey Burton has been one of the many frustrating aspects of the Chicago Bears’ offense this season.
But perhaps no one is as frustrated with his performance this season than Burton himself.
“Not anywhere close to great,” Burton said of his performance this season, via the Sun-Times. “But OK.”
“OK” isn’t what this offense needs right now. But “OK” is what Burton is capable of right now as he continues to rehab, physically, from a groin injury he had offseason surgery to repair, and has since reaggravated prior to the season opener against the Green Bay Packers.
Burton finds himself physically limited by this nagging injury, as the Bears continue to slowly ease him back into action.
“That’s what’s so frustrating about it,” he said. “Mentally, you’re good. Mentally, I’m refreshed. I’m ready to rock and roll. But physically, I’m just being held back.”
Burton has been a non-factor in the Bears’ offense this season. After playing 80 percent of offensive snaps last season, Burton has played just 45.9 percent of offensive snaps this season. In four games this season, he has 11 receptions for 57 yards.
“It’s weird,” Burton said. “Because you’re in a position where you want to play as hard as you can but you don’t want to get hurt. You gotta figure out a fine line.”
Bears coach Matt Nagy insists that the plan is to get Burton more involved in the offense moving forward.
“I could see it jumping up a little bit more here,” Nagy said. “Just because we, that was the plan — the healthier you get, ‘Let’s ease into it,’ rather than just throw you in and not be ready.”
The Bears are hoping Burton is ready sooner rather than later.
