After a lightning-quick start to the 2025 season, Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze has started to fizzle out over the last four games.
It was an impressive start to the season for any wide receiver in the Bears' franchise history. He had 20 receptions for 296 yards and an NFL-leading five touchdowns. Odunze had at least one touchdown catch in each of his first four games.
After the bye week, though, things seem to change for Odunze. He has since caught 11 passes for 177 yards and zero touchdowns, including a zero-reception game in their last matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
While Odunze has been able to help the team in other ways, including blocking in the running game, there is a sense that something is off with the second-year wide receiver who had aspirations of making his first Pro Bowl. He seems to have hit a folk in the road.
Bears need to find a way to get their young receiver more involved in the offense
The problem is that Chicago only gave Odunze three targets against the Bengals. That led to some drama over the last week with his father reposting a tweet that called for the wide receiver to be traded. While it seems like Odunze is happy to be with the Bears, the frustration seems to be building in the background.
Many Bears fans have noticed the number of drops Odunze had in key games like the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints. Some of those could be attributed to Caleb Williams's off-target throws, but some were on Odunze.
Facing a Giants team that is 24th in the NFL against the pass, allowing 232.1 yards per game, the Bears might have an opening to get Odunze rolling early. It would require Bears head coach Ben Johnson to call some eight to 15-yard routes to Odunze and let him work. While Odunze isn't known as a true deep threat receiver, he has great route-running skills that make him a nightmare on intermediate passes.
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If the Bears can get him going early and build momentum for Odunze, he can heat up and be that elite receiver Chicago fans know he can be.