Latest Rome Odunze update from Chicago Bears OTAs suggests lingering injury
The Chicago Bears opened the doors at Halas Hall on Thursday to allow for the team's beat reports to cover practice.
The Bears are in the OTA portion of their offseason calendar as they continue to install a new offense under offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. A focal point of the Bears' offense is expected to be rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze after being selected by the team with the 9th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
There was some cause for concern during the rookie mini-camp earlier this month when Odunze did not practice after the first day due to hamstring tightness. In a sign that the injury may still be lingering, Odunze was not spotted on the practice field on Thursday.
Wasn’t a great day for the #Bears offense today. Lots of incomplete passes during team drills.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) May 23, 2024
Should note: Bears offense was missing two starting OL, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze.
It’s only OTA’s, folks but still rough.
Chicago Bears fans have PTSD while learning Rome Odunze was not practicing.
Given the Bears' history of drafting wide receivers near the top of the first round only to be faced with immediate injury concerns, Odunze's not practicing on Thursday will undoubtedly remind fans of Kevin White's rookie season.
White was drafted by the Bears in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft but a leg injury and consequent surgery led to the former 7th overall pick missing his entire rookie season. Over the course of 3 seasons with the Bears, White only played 14 games.
Now that you are officially panicking, let's point out that it's possible that the Bears are just taking a cautious approach with Odunze. Odunze's work ethic with the University of Washington was highly regarded, and the Bears may be slow-rolling his ramp-up ahead of Training Camp in July.
For what it's worth, Matt Eberflus did say he was hope that Odunze would be practicing next week.
Matt Eberflus says he's hopeful Rome Odunze will ramp back up for OTA's next week. #Bears
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) May 23, 2024
Overall, based on reports from Thursday's practice, it does sound like the defense is ahead of the offense which is to be expected. There shouldn't be much to fret about in regard to the offensive struggles other than to take note of them with the hope that there will be improvement each day moving forward.
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