The Chicago Bears are a couple of days away from starting the campaign against the Carolina Panthers. Despite the game inching up, Bears head coach Ben Johnson didn't give the best update on receiver Rome Odunze.
Speaking to the media, Johnson said Odunze is listed as day-to-day and won't practice. Johnson added that this injury is different from the one he dealt with last year, and they are "hopeful " he can play against Carolina.
While they don't seem overly concerned at the moment, this update isn't ideal for Chicago no matter how you slice it.
Rome Odunze's foot injury update isn't what Bears needed to start the season
Last year, Odunze suffered a stress fracture in his foot that caused him to miss the final five games of the regular season. That will affect Odunze in the future.
Back in June, Odunze said he has a "new normal" when it comes to running on his foot. He added that a callus on his foot has created a different foot structure.
And even though Johnson said this is a different injury, the fact that the third-year receiver is dealing with another foot injury can't make the team's job any easier. Odunze made it clear that his foot is no longer what it was before last year. That stress fracture took him away for a long and pivotal stretch.
Chicago doesn't want to experience that again, and considering that DJ Moore is no longer around, there will be more on Odunze's plate. The pass game is slated to run through Odunze, Colston Loveland, and Luther Burden.
That's Chicago's plan, but missing practice in the week leading up to the season opener is never ideal. Last season, Bears fans didn't see Odunze for several weeks. And now nine months later, he's dealing with yet another foot injury.
Time will tell how serious this injury becomes. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune added that Odunze is dealing with some right leg or ankle/foot injury.
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Regardless, the timing couldn't come at a worse time. The Bears could certainly be taking the safe route and not forcing Odunze into unnecessary action, but he's dealing with something nonetheless. The Bears expect and need big things from the Washington product in 2026. For that to happen, he needs to be healthy, and this injury update throws a wrench into those plans.
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