The Chicago Bears will take on the Green Bay Packers in Week 14 without wide receiver Rome Odunze, whom they ruled out with a foot injury. Odunze overcame a similar injury, while also navigating an ankle issue, earlier in the season.
It is an unfortunate turn of events for the Bears. Odunze is the team’s leader in targets (by a wide margin), receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
However, the Bears received a ray of hope regarding the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 draft.
Insider Delivers Critical Update About Rome Odunze After Making Final Decision
Rome Odunze Injury Looms Large for Bears
Odunze emerged from the Bears’ Week 13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles with the injury, and he missed practice all week. The Bears made their final call, ruling Odunze out on the final injury report of the week.
However, the injury is not expected to sideline Odunze long-term.
“Bears WR Rome Odunze, who was ruled out for Sunday’s game against Green Bay, has been playing with a stress fracture in his foot, per sources,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on X on December 5. “At this point, Odunze just needs rest and is week-to-week. The belief is it’s nothing long term and he’ll be back soon.”
Odunze has 44 receptions for 661 yards and 6 touchdowns this season, and he was on track to surpass his 54-734-3 line from his rookie season.
There has been some inefficiency.
Odunze has caught 48.9% of his 90 targets this season, after snagging 53.5% of his 101 looks in 2024. Odunze has had some drops and, more pertinent to the Bears’ offense as a whole, quarterback Caleb Williams has struggled with accuracy.
Williams has the lowest completion percentage among all qualified passers at 58.1% entering Week 14, something he and Bears head coach Ben Johnson have openly acknowledged.
There has also been an acknowledgement that it is an all-around issue, including receivers.
At any rate, the Bears must wait at least another week before they can attempt to get their passing game, and specifically a connection between Odunze and Williams that was off to a strong start, back on track.
Bears Rule Out Tyrique Stevenson
In less surprising news, perhaps, the Bears also ruled out cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II. That is despite the latter upgrading from back-to-back DNPs to a limited session on Friday.
However, the Bears removed the injury designations for everyone else on their final report, which included linebacker T.J. Edwards. Edwards has been sidelined since Week 9.
Jaylon Johnson, Kyle Monangai, and Noah Sewell were also cleared of any issues.
The Bears will need someone to step up in Odunze’s absence, to be sure. But their wide receiver room remains talented in what should be a big spot for the likes of DJ Moore, Olamide Zaccheaus, and especially Luther Burden III.
But a boost to the defense, such as what Edwards could provide now that he is back healthy, can help the Bears offset Odunze’s absence, too.