Pace: Burton’s injury wasn’t in his head
When tight end Trey Burton woke up with a sore groin the day before the Bears hosted his former team, the Eagles, in the wild-card round, the Bears put him through typical testing, which revealed damage.
“He [had] inflammation in the groin area,” general manager Ryan Pace said Monday. “All our MRIs, all our scans showed that, so it’s significant.
“We were hopeful it would calm down by kickoff. Unfortunately, it didn’t. Our expectation would be, if we were fortunate enough to win that game, he could have been ready the next week. But he wasn’t ready that game.”
The Eagles’ 16-15 victory was the first game Burton missed all season. He met with reporters a day afterward, saying his body has a history of locking up “when it feels any threat.” Asked if his struggles with anxiety played a role with his groin injury, he said he didn’t think so.
“I was in a really good spot mentally going into this game,” he said. “I was extremely excited to play my former team — and obviously a playoff game, as well. I was really looking forward to competing with those guys that I played with for four years.”
Pace said it’s hard to tell where Burton’s injury originated. He had participated fully in practice the Friday before the game.
“We just know that thing popped up Saturday morning, and he was unable to play,” Pace said.
Is Pace concerned that Burton’s struggles with anxiety could become an issue going forward?
“No,” he said.
Why Mack is missing out
Pace said linebacker Khalil Mack sprained his knee against the Eagles, which is why he won’t play in the Pro Bowl.
“It’s nothing that we’re overly concerned about,” Pace said.
A slim surgery report
Wide receiver Anthony Miller will undergo surgery on his left shoulder, which he said he dislocated “numerous” times during the season. Pace said it was the only significant surgery facing the team.
Miller, a second-round pick last April, played in 15 games, making 33 catches for 423 yards and seven touchdowns.