In the Chicago Bears’ comeback defeat of the New York Giants, their wide receivers performed far below standard.
Although Caleb Williams played well, several drops dampened the offense’s flow. Veteran receiver Olamide Zaccheaus was a notable offender. His issues reflect a glaring problem in the Bears’ passing game—along with a possible answer sitting on the bench.
Rough Day for Zaccheaus
The Bears’ wide receiver corps had a horrendous showing in their game against the Giants. Overall, they had six drops, including two that could have resulted in touchdowns. It felt like every time the offense started to gain steam, a critical drop halted their drive.
One player, Olamide Zaccheaus, particularly struggled. Zaccheaus was responsible for half of the Bears’ drops on Sunday.
Each drop happened at a pivotal moment. The first occurred midway through the first quarter on a dime from Williams that would have resulted in a touchdown if held onto.
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The second drop happened on a key drive in the third quarter when the Bears were down by 10 points. On a 3rd down and 5, Zaccheaus ran a quick out to the left sideline. Williams hit him perfectly for what should have been a first down, but he dropped the pass, forcing the Bears to punt.
The last drop occurred as the Bears progressed down the field on their first touchdown drive of the fourth quarter. Caleb threw a sharp pass over the middle, which could have gained over 20 yards and brought the Bears right outside the red zone. Thankfully, an illegal contact penalty on the Giants gave the Bears a new set of downs.
Even on the game-winning touchdown play, when Caleb scrambled outside the pocket, he saw Zaccheaus wide open on a crossing route that would likely have resulted in a touchdown; however, Caleb hesitated to throw to him because of the earlier drops.
Though the Bears won, Zaccheaus’s performance was a key reason they had to come from behind. He joined the team this offseason as a reliable veteran receiver for a young quarterback, but he has been very disappointing this year.
Rookie Burden Is Ready for His Moment
On the bright side, there is a viable solution on the roster to make up for Zacchaeus’ faults: Luther Burden III. Drafted 39th overall in the 2025 draft, he was initially viewed as a luxury pick for Chicago, a flashy player expected to develop into a key part of the offense. However, he is ready to be a key factor in this offense.
In his limited chances this season, Burden has been impressive. In his first eight games, he caught 16 passes on 18 targets for 222 yards and one touchdown. When he gets three targets or more, he averages three receptions and 67 yards per game.
Burden also leads the team with a 136.4 passer rating when targeted, compared to Olamide Zaccheaus’s 81.1 passer rating. Burden made one of the biggest plays in Sunday’s victory, catching a 20-yard curl route from Caleb and fighting for an extra 6 to 7 yards after the catch, setting up the Bears in the red zone for the game-winning touchdown.
It’s time to put Luther Burden III in the starting lineup. He consistently demonstrates that he is a winning football player, bringing speed and route-running skills that the rest of the receiver group lacks.
The Bears’ win over the Giants should be both a relief and a wake-up call. At the same time, their offense shows promise under Caleb Williams, but the unreliable hands at receiver threaten to undermine that progress. Luther Burden III has proven he’s ready for his chance, and for Chicago to keep winning, the coaching staff needs to give him that opportunity.
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