Newly-signed Bears corner Artie Burns tears ACL

Artie Burns is likely out for 2020 after tearing his ACL.

With Nick Foles and Mitch Trubisky duking it out for the starting quarterback job, the Chicago Bears need to once again hope that Chuck Pagano’s defense is tough enough to carry this team to the postseason. Among the new faces on the defensive side of the ball in 2020 is Artie Burns, a former first-round bust trying to re-establish himself after a stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Unfortunately for Burns, he likely won’t get to see the field in 2020. Burns tore his ACL in practice, meaning his 2020 season is likely over after just a few practices.

Artie Burns was looking to re-establish himself with the Bears.

This is another big loss for the Bears, who are already going to be without safety Jordan Lucas and defensive tackle Eddie Goldman in 2020.

Burns was picked in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, as the Miami native and Hurricanes star enticed Pittsburgh with his blend of speed and athleticism. Unfortunately, injuries often kept him off the field in Pittsburgh. Furthermore, he never seemed to grasp the finer points of cornerback play, which could help explain why he allowed five touchdowns in 2018 despite just six starts. He was relegated to backup duty in 2019, making just eight tackles.

With Buster Skrine likely destined for a starting role as Chicago’s nickel cornerback, the most likely candidate to start opposite Kyle Fuller in Chicago is Jaylon Johnson, a former Utah star that the Bears added in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Burns is only on a one-year contract, so his Bears career might be over before it started.

Burns likely wasn’t going to turn into a Hall of Famer just due to a change of scenery, but the Bears saw enough talent in him to take a bit of a risk and bring him in. Burns’ long-term prospects within the league are very murky after the vengeful hand of the football gods ruined his 2020 season.