The Chicago Bears have gotten off to an ominous start ahead of their rematch against the Green Bay Packers. Several players have missed practice time for the Bears in Week 16, including second-year wide receiver Rome Odunze. Odunze has not played since Week 13.
He practiced in a limited fashion in Week 15, but ultimately sat out against the Cleveland Browns after suffering a setback pregame.
He has not practiced at all this week, leaving his status very much in doubt.
NFL Insider Updates Bears WR Rome Odunze’s Outlook Amid Injury
Rome Odunze Trending in Wrong Direction for Bears
Odunze has been Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’ top target this season, even though their production slipped before the wideout went down. Odunze has been dealing with ankle, foot, and/or heel injuries since Week 9.
He has already missed two games, and he is trending towards missing a third.
However, there remains optimism that Odunze’s injury is something they can manage with rest rather than more drastic methods.
“Bears receiver Rome Odunze (foot) is considered ‘week-to-week right now,’ per a source,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on December 17. “While the team is looking at all options with Odunze’s nagging foot issue, placing him on injured reserve would be at least a mild surprise. It makes sense to keep his availability open, even if he sits a week. But like with Adams, let’s see what the team decides.”
Odunze, the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, has 44 receptions for 661 yards and 6 touchdowns this season. Without him, the Bears will lean on DJ Moore more, just as they did in Week 15 against the Packers.
However, it is more than Odunze who is at risk of, if not likely to, miss Saturday’s contest.
Luther Burden III Following Ominous Pattern
Bears head coach Ben Johnson was candid about leaving “everything on the table” regarding the best next steps for Odunze. He was more optimistic about Burden, calling the rookie second-round pick “day-to-day.”
Burden exited the win over the Browns early with an ankle injury.
Through two days of practice in Week 16, however, Burden has yet to participate in practice this week.
Burden has come on for the Bears lately, with three-plus receptions in six straight games, five or more targets in the last five, and 27-plus yards in every one of those contests. His absence would be another big blow to the Bears in this rematch.
Having Burden and Odunze trending in the wrong direction is a daunting reality for the Bears.
They are familiar with the Packers and are just two weeks removed from their first meeting against the Packers this season. It was a narrow margin of defeat then.
The Bears will get somewhat of a reprieve, with Packers star Micah Parsons out for the season after a knee injury. Still, not having both, or even one, of Burden and Odunze would be to the Bears’ detriment.