Burks recorded seven tackles (four solo) and one pass defended during Sunday's 31-14 victory against the Rams.
The 27-year-old played every defensive snap with starting weakside linebacker Dre Greenlaw (calf) ruled out ahead of this contest. Burks has played over twice as many special-teams snaps as defensive snaps over the course of his five-year career, and his playing time will drop off significantly if Greenlaw is able to return against the Chargers on Sunday, Nov. 13.
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49ers' Oren Burks: Practices fully Thursday
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Burks (knee) was a full participant during Thursday's practice, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Burks suffered a knee injury during the 49ers' preseason finale against the Texans, but his ability to practice in full Thursday implies he's moved on from the issue. The fifth-year linebacker could be poised for an increased role during Sunday's matchup against the Bears if presumed starter Dre Greenlaw (elbow) is unable to gain medical clearance prior to kickoff.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Hits COVID list
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Burks (illness) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, as a result of testing positive for the virus, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Burks' potential absence Sunday against the Vikings would put a dent in the Packers' linebacker depth. Playing a rotational role this season, Burks has 29 tackles (21 solo) on the season.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Plays reserve role in 2019
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Burks had 11 tackles (seven solo) in 12 games this season.
The 2018 third-round pick missed the first four weeks of the season with a partially torn left pectoral, but he returned for Week 5 and played a minor defensive role the rest of the season. Green Bay's top inside linebackers -- Blake Martinez and B.J. Goodson -- are both poised to hit free agency in March, leaving Burks, Ty Summers and Curtis Bolton (knee) as the remaining players at the position. Burks could enter training camp with a heavily increased role with a strong offseason, but the Packers likely will make outside additions to the position group, whether it be via the draft or free agency.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Making season debut
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Burks (chest) is active for Sunday's game versus the Cowboys.
Burks missed the first four games of the season, but he's ready to make his season debut. The Packers will remain cautious with Burks and will roll out B.J. Goodson to start at inside linebacker alongside Blake Martinez, but Burks will benefit by getting some game-speed reps under his belt.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Sheds non-contact jersey
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Burks practiced Monday with a protective harness covering his injured pectoral and left shoulder, but he wasn't wearing a non-contact jersey, Jim Owczarski and Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report.
Burks suffered a partially torn pectoral in the Packers' preseason opener on Aug. 8. He didn't make his first tangible progress on Packers injury reports until Sept. 18, showing up on that day's estimate as a limited participant. However, on all official reports in the meantime, Burks received a DNP. The Packers won't reveal his activity level this week until Wednesday, but he appears to be closing in on getting cleared for game action.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Spotted at practice Monday
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Burks (pectoral) is participating in practice Monday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.
Burks wasn't able to practice in any capacity last week, so even if he's limited Monday, it'll be a step in the right direction. The second-year pro is vying to make his season debut Week 5 versus the Cowboys. Burks is set for a starting role in Green Bay's linebacker corps when he returns to the lineup.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Will be held out Sunday
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Burks (chest) is listed as out for Sunday's game versus the Vikings, Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports.
Burks will miss his second straight game to start the year. He didn't practice all week, so his chances of playing Week 3 versus the Broncos will depend on him getting on the field in some capacity first. For the time being, Ty Summers and B.J. Goodson will work in at inside linebacker.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Won't play Thursday
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Burks (pectoral) won't play in Thursday's game versus the Bears, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Burks is still recovering from a partially torn left pectoral and didn't practice all week, so it's no surprise he'll miss the season opener. The injury isn't as bad as initially thought, however, so Burks should be able to return at some point this season. Expect a rotation of rookie Ty Summers and B.J. Goodson to operate at middle linebacker in Burks' absence.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Hoping to return in weeks
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Burks has a partially torn left pectoral and hopes to return in a few weeks, Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports.
Burks was initially feared to be facing an extended absence, but it now looks as through he'll be able to avoid injured reserve altogether. The 24-year-old will sport a harness this season and could be available once his shoulder is in good enough shape to handle the impact from hits.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Day-to-day with injury
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Burks (pectoral) will not need surgery and is considered day-to-day, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Burks and the Packers originally feared the worst with his injured pectoral muscle, but now that a specialist determined that it would heal on its own, he may not be out for the year after all. Burks will be day-to-day until Green Bay can provide more clarity on his recovery timetable.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Pectoral tear feared
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Burks may have suffered a torn pectoral during Thursday's preseason win against the Texans, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.
We'll await word on an official diagnosis and plan of action, but Burks seems destined to miss regular-season games, as he did to begin his rookie campaign in 2018. When healthy and available, Burks will slot in as the starting inside linebacker next to Blake Martinez, so any absence would leave an opening in the No. 1 defense. The next players up are 2018 undrafted free agent James Crawford or 2017 second-rounder Josh Jones, the latter of whom has played ILB in the past.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Primed for increased role
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General manager Brian Gutekunst said Tuesday that he expects Burks to make "a big jump" in 2019, Pete Dougherty of Packers News reports.
Burks appeared to be in line for a key role after being drafted by Green Bay in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, even though he ultimately failed to carve out a starting role behind Antonio Morrison and Blake Martinez. Gutekunst downplayed Burks' struggles as "typical rookie stuff, growing within the defense, understanding it from an instinctual standpoint," and said that "it takes time in the NFL to really feel comfortable within the defense." With Morrison having been waived prior to the start of free agency, Burks is set for a sharp increase in workload after only playing 122 defensive snaps during his rookie season.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Will be eased into action
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Burks will play in Sunday's game against the Redskins but will primarily be used on special teams, Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports.
The rookie was cleared for full practice this week after Burks missed the first two games of the season with a shoulder injury. However, it appears the Packers aren't willing to throw Burks back into full action immediately, which is somewhat surprising given that he is listed as a starter on the team's depth chart. Nevertheless, expect Burks to have a chance to make a significant impact on defense once Week 4 rolls around.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Limited in practice Wednesday
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Burks (shoulder) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Burks dislocated his left shoulder prior to Green Bay's third preseason game but said he's ready to practice in full and could return as a nickle linebacker, Tom Silverstein and Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report. The 2018 third-rounder served as the Packers' starting inside linebacker prior to his injury, but the addition of veteran Antonio Morrison could seemingly cause Burks to be moved to the nickle linebacker role. Burks has reportedly digested the playbook well enough to facilitate the move, which is a good sign for the rookie's versatility.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Long-term absence not expected
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Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said Sunday that the left shoulder injury Burks suffered prior to Friday's 13-6 preseason loss to the Raiders isn't expected to be "a long-term deal," Mike Spofford of the team's official site reports.
Burks said he felt the shoulder pop out during a blocking drill in pregame workouts, but an evaluation of the MRI he underwent after suffering the injury was, "better than anticipated." Even so, McCarthy was unwilling to offer a timetable for the rookie's return, suggesting Burks' status for the Sept. 9 opener against the Bears could be in some peril. Perhaps as a response to their dwindling depth at middle linebacker, the Packers swung a deal to bring in Antonio Morrison from the Colts. Morrison could challenge for a starting role on the inside next to Blake Martinez if Burks isn't ready for the start of the campaign.
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Packers' Oren Burks: Suffers injury in warmups
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Burks won't play in Friday's preseason game against the Raiders after injuring his shoulder in warmups, Chris Roth of WBAY-TV 2 reports.
It's a frightening injury for the Packers, who already lost Jake Ryan for the season to a torn ACL. Burks was expected to take the reins at starting inside linebacker, but a serious injury would derail those plans and force the Packers to reach further down their depth chart. Ahmad Thomas will likely start Friday in Burks' place.
