Chicago Bears tight end Trey Burton had already been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, but his absence will be a lot longer than that, as the team has placed him on season-ending injured reserve.
Burton, who is dealing with a calf issue, was placed on IR Saturday afternoon as the Bears travelled to Los Angeles for Sunday night’s game. As the Bears are already nine games into their regular season, Burton would not be eligible to be activated from injured reserve prior to the season’s end, meaning that he won’t suit up for the rest of the regular season.
Burton appeared in eight games this season for the Bears, with 14 catches for 84 yards and zero touchdowns to his credit. In two seasons in Chicago, Burton has 68 catches for 653 yards and six touchdowns.
It’s been an injury-plagued year for the Bears’ tight end, as Burton missed several practices at the beginning of training camp and then didn’t appear in a preseason game. He also missed the Bears’ first game of the season against the Green Bay Packers before making his debut against the Denver Broncos.
Burton had also missed last season’s playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles after he popped up on the Saturday injury report with a groin injury. He later underwent offseason sports hernia surgery.
To replace Burton on the active roster, the Bears have signed linebacker James Vaughters from the practice squad.
With Burton out, the Bears will be thin at tight end on Sunday, with Bradley Sowell and Ben Braunecker likely getting the bulk of the work with Adam Shaheen also on the sidelines.
