A familiar face returned for the final open practice of Bears training camp Saturday morning in Bourbonnais.
Bears tight end Trey Burton practiced for the first time since Aug. 1, after being held out for precautionary reasons as he recovers from sports hernia surgery. He practiced in a limited capacity as the Bears look to slowly work him back in.
Burton said he hasn’t experienced any setbacks from his sports hernia surgery, but that it’s been hard to take time off.
“I want to be out there with the guys,” Burton said after Saturday’s practice. “I can’t stand sitting on the sidelines. It’s really been frustrating from that standpoint. But I know there’s a bigger picture in mind.”
Burton said the soreness he’s been experiencing was expected, as was the time off, but that it was just part of the Bears’ rehab plan.
Another big part of that rehab plan being that Burton won’t see any preseason action.
The Bears didn’t address tight end during the offseason, insisting to ride with the guys they had in place, including Burton, Adam Shaheen and Ben Braunecker. Although they did bring in a few undrafted rookies, including Ian Bunting and Dax Raymond.
But the Bears need Burton to be 100 percent for their Sept. 5 opener, as he’s a key piece in that offense. And while Burton isn’t the guy that wants to sit out, being ready for that season opener is keeping the bigger picture in mind.
