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When Chicago Bears tight end Trey Burton was unable to play in the wildcard game against the Philadelphia Eagles, several people jumped to the conclusion that his anxiety was preventing him from playing against his former team.
Even though the Bears announced that it was a groin issue that kept Burton from suiting up, conspiracy theorists still clung to the anxiety excuse.
Earlier today, head coach Matt Nagy told the media that Burton underwent sports hernia surgery and he is not participating in OTAs. The injury is related to the issue at the end of the 2018 season. “He wasn’t feeling real comfortable with it,” Nagy said today at Halas Hall. “A couple months ago he had sports hernia surgery. No need for us to keep dragging this thing out. Let’s get this right and we feel like we’ve done that.”
They tried to rehab it, but ultimately surgery was the best option. Nagy said that he should be back by training camp.
EDIT: From 6/5/019
Bears HC Matt Nagy just amended the timetable he gave us last week about TE Trey Burton’s sports hernia surgery. Instead of “a couple months ago,” Nagy says Burton had surgery “more like a month or couple weeks” ago.
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) June 5, 2019
Nagy did not amend his hope that TB80 starts camp on time
Catch up on our WCG Top 100 Bears Players of All-Time list.
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With Burton out, that means more OTA reps for returning veterans Adam Shaheen, Ben Braunecker, and the newly converted Bradley Sowell. Undrafted free agents Ellis Richardson, Dax Raymond, Jesper Horsted, and Ian Bunting will also look to make their mark this offseason.
Pro Football Weekly’s Arthur Arkush Tweeted that Shaheen, and rookie wide out Riley Ridley, both had a good day of practice.