The Chicago Bears received some positive news on Wednesday with right tackle Darnell Wright and wide receiver Luther Burden III returning to practice before the preseason against the Tennessee Titans.
The Chicago Bears held a light practice on Wednesday at Halas Hall before preparing to travel to Nashville, Tenn. for Thursday's scrimmage against the Titans.
According to reporters who attended the closed practice at Halas Hall, right tackle Darnell Wright and wide receiver Luther Burden III were in attendance and participated in the practice.
Wright left Tuesday's practice early soon after the team started some low red-zone work. Bears trainer Andre Tucker evaluated Wright's right elbow, having him flex it before walking to Halas Hall, ending his day.
The Bears' right tackle was seen wearing an elbow brace, which isn't anything new as Wright has worn one in the past.
Burden participated in some individual periods and caught some passes during the practice, but according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin, he went inside once the Bears started working on 7-on-7s. This is Burden's first practice since he injured his groin on Aug. 8 after a one-on-one rep with cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.
Having Wright and Burden back on the practice field, even in a limited fashion, is a positive sign for the Bears' offense. Both players will play pivotal roles in helping quarterback Caleb Williams take another step in head coach Ben Johnson's offense this season.
Safety Elijah Hicks also practiced for the first time in training camp. The veteran safety was activated off the PUP list on Tuesday. According to the Athletic's Dan Wiederer, Hicks took some reps during 7-on-7s.
Rookie linebacker Keyshaun Elliott also practiced for the first time on Wednesday. Like Hicks he was activated off the PUP list. Like every other member of the Bears defense, Elliott did his up-downs.
Veteran cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and quarterback Tyson Bagent practiced for the second day in a row, a good sign that both players are trending in the right direction.
Defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. left Tuesday's practice early and wasn't seen on Wednesday. Someone to monitor is defensive end Austin Booker. The last time he practiced at Halas Hall was Aug. 19, the day before the joint practice with the Bengals.
Booker practiced against the Bengals last Thursday but didn't play in the preseason game. He also missed Tuesday's practice.
The Bears need all the help they can get on the defensive line, and Booker is a part of the solution to providing some much-needed pass rush for the team this season. Johnson is scheduled to speak before Thursday's joint practice against the Titans, so that should be an opportunity to get come clarity on the Bears' edge rusher.
