There was so much excitement this time last year after the Chicago Bears signed Trey Burton to a four-year, $32 million contract to play the Travis Kelce role in Matt Nagy’s offense.
What a difference one year makes.
Burton didn’t have the kind of impact many expected in his first season as a Bear. He started all 16 games for Chicago but ended the year with just 54 catches for 569 yards and six touchdowns. It’s not that he had a bad season, but more was anticipated from him.
His underachieving season ended in the worst possible way, too. He was forced to miss the Bears’ wild card playoff game against the Eagles because of a mysterious injury that had some assuming was related to his mental health. That proved to be way off the mark, if not irresponsible.
Burton’s injury lingered into the offseason and ultimately required sports hernia surgery. He was kept out offseason activities in order to rehab and recover in time for training camp. Mission accomplished.
“That was something we were shooting for in the offseason,” Burton said Friday, via the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s different. I’ve never had anything like this. I’ve never had an injury that’s kept me out more than a week, so it’s a learning curve and you have to learn how to take it slow.”
The Bears will likely continue taking it slow with Burton. He’s likely to be used little if at all in the preseason with Week 1 against the Packers the ultimate target for his return to game action.
Matt Nagy is certainly pumped to have his tight end back, and expects big things from Burton in 2019.
“No, he’s on the rise,” Nagy said of Burton via the Sun-Times. “I’m learning who he (is), what his strengths and weaknesses are… Now I think I have a better feel on what Trey does well, along with our quarterback having a better feel.”
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