The Chicago Bears have announced a concerning injury update on rookie star wide receiver Rome Odunze following their Week 1 home victory over the Tennessee Titans.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus reported that Rome Odunze is undergoing an MRI on a knee injury he suffered during the game. It’s not known when exactly Odunze suffered the injury.
Bill Zimmerman theorizes that he injury occurred when Odunze collided with a Tennessee opponent and Bears teammate Velus Jones in the fourth quarter after the latter caught a short pass:
Velus Jones and a Titans player collide with Rome Odunze and he goes down awkwardly late in the 4th quarter. I would expect this is the play where Odunze was potentially injured. pic.twitter.com/JO6tKdCBD8
— Bill Zimmerman (@BillTZimmerman) September 9, 2024
In his NFL debut, Rome Odunze caught one pass for 11 years. The Bears offense struggled as a whole, generating just 148 yards of offense on 53 plays. They pulled out a 24-17 victory, however, thanks to a special teams punt block touchdown and a Tyrique Stevenson pick-six.
Bears HC Matt Eberflus said WR Rome Odunze will undergo an MRI today on his knee.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 9, 2024
The Bears drafted Odunze ninth overall, eight picks after using the No. 1 selection on Caleb Williams. Odunze joined a rebuilt Chicago offense that also added running back D’Andre Swift and All-Pro wide receiver Keenan Allen to complement DJ Moore, Khalil Herbert and Cole Kmet.
Bears WR Rome Odunze’s last play on the field was D’Andre Swift’s 20-yard run with 4:22 left in the 4th quarter. You can see him hopping off to the sideline at the end of the play pic.twitter.com/kVJ52xkgqb
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) September 9, 2024
Bears Need Rome Odunze To Compete For A Playoff Spot
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Rome Odunze had an excellent final season at Washington, hauling in 92 receptions for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Huskies reached the national championship game but well to the Michigan Wolverines.
Chicago will visit CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 2. After that, they’ll travel to Indianapolis to take on Anthony Richardson’s Colts. We’ll provide more details on Odunze’s status when they become available.
Bears Need Rome Odunze To Compete For A Playoff Spot
The Bears offense is clearly a work in progress with a rookie quarterback in Williams and new faces in Odunze, Allen and Swift. But Chicago needs its key weapons to be at full strength if they’re to compete for a playoff spot in a crowded NFC.
