The playoff odds say Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns is a big one for the Chicago Bears, with a 29 percent swing based on the outcome, according to Pro Football Focus. So having as many hands on deck as possible will be critical, and there's some positive news on that front.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Bears are optimistic that wide receiver Rome Odunze will be able to suit up on Sunday.
Odunze missed the Bears' Week 14 loss to the Green Bay Packers due to a lingering foot issue that had landed him on the injury report on basically a weekly basis going back to October. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero subsequently reported Odunze had been playing with a stress fracture in his foot for multiple weeks,
Odunze was limited in practice all week, and he was listed as questionable on Friday's final injury report.
After a fast start to the season, with five touchdowns in the first four games, Odunze's production declined as he dealt with nagging foot and heel issues. Even with that downturn, and after missing last week, he still leads the Bears in receptions (44), targets (90), receiving yards (661), and receiving touchdowns (six) entering Week 15.
Rome Odunze's return (in any capacity) will be welcomed with open arms
Even when he's not catching a bunch of passes, as seen in Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Odunze can be very impactful to the Bears' offense. He'll command coverage from the opponent's top cornerback, set up teammates with more favorable matchups, and his effort as a blocker gets noticed by coaches and teammates.
If he does play, with the cold temperatures forecasted for Chicago as a potential factor in the equation, it's fair to assume Odunze will be on some snap count. It's also fair to assume those snaps will be prioritized for key situations — red zone, third down, etc.
The Bears theoretically can beat a 3-10 and injury-depleted Browns team without Odunze, and it seems he won't be at full strength if he does suit up. Being optimistic, he can play just over 24 hours out from kickoff, which could easily turn the other way when it's time to determine whether he can play before inactives are announced.
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All in all, whether he plays on Sunday or not, a positive trend in Odunze's injury status is excellent news for the Bears as they make their late-season push for a playoff spot.