The final injury report for the Chicago Bears is out, and once again, wide receiver Rome Odunze will not be playing for the team in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers.
This will be the fourth straight game that Odunze has missed, as he hasn't played since the Philadelphia Eagles' Black Friday game. Chicago will also be without its cornerback, Nick McCloud, who is out with an illness.
There are five other players who are listed as questionable on the injury report:
- Josh Blackwell, CB (Illness)
- Nahshon Wright, CB (Hamstring/Illness)
- T.J. Edwards, LB (Glute)
- C.J. Gardner-Johnson, CB (Knee)
- Luke Newman, OL (Foot)
Bears have to roll without Odunze again
The good news is that the Bears will officially have rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III back after missing the Week 16 win over the Green Bay Packers with an ankle injury. Odunze being out will open the door for Burden to get the start alongside DJ Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus, as well as give undrafted rookie Jahdae Walker another chance to get snaps on offense after catching the game-tying touchdown against the Packers last week.
Chicago in the slot on defense is going to be a concern with backup McCloud out and Gardner-Johnson being questionable. Wright is also questionable, which might mean more Tyrique Stevenson in the game, as he will be needed either on the outside or could play in the slot.
The Bears were also finally getting healthy at linebacker, and now Edwards is also questionable for the 49ers game. There's still Tremaine Edmunds, D'Marco Jackson, and Noah Sewell who can hold down the fort if they need to, but watch for Edwards to fight to play in the game.
Read more: This Bears veteran may be playing their final snaps in Chicago
Odunze's loss is rough, but the Bears proved last week that they have plenty of weapons on offense to get the job done without him.