While tight end Trey Burton’s health has been in question since last January’s Wild Card playoff game, his future with the Bears doesn’t seem as cloudy.
When Bears head coach Matt Nagy was asked whether Burton intends to play in 2020, Nagy said: “Yeah, I would hope so. I don’t see why not.”
It’s no secret that the tight end position has been one of the most disappointing aspects of this underachieving season. But for Burton even more so, whose health has been a looming question mark since the night before the Wild Card game against the Eagles where his groin “completely locked up.”
Burton underwent sports hernia surgery in the offseason, but he experienced a setback during training camp. Burton made his season debut against the Broncos in Week 2, but he was never the same.
Burton was ineffective in the eight games he did play in before he landed on injured reserve with a calf injury. His health certainly is a huge concern that looms over the position heading into the offseason.
“He’s had a year of trying to get healthy, and he’s not there yet,” Nagy said. “He’s just going to be working through that, and we’ll see where he’s at here as he goes. He’s still working on getting healthy.”
The Bears need a healthy Burton next season — if he’s to remain with the club. If Chicago were to release Burton, it would result in $7.5 million in dead money, which isn’t exactly ideal.
Tight end is definitely a position that general manager Ryan Pace will look to shore up this offseason. Between Burton and Adam Shaheen’s ineffectiveness, it’s a concern for a Nagy offense that leans heavily on an effective tight end.
