Bears' Rome Odunze: Won't require offseason surgery
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Odunze said Monday that he will not require surgery this offseason to address the foot injury that forced him to miss the final five games of the regular season, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Odunze retook the field for both of Chicago's postseason contests, managing an identical 2-44-0 line on six targets in each game, though he initially was listed as questionable for both the wild-card and divisional rounds. Across 12 regular-season appearances, the 2024 first-round pick secured 44 of 90 targets for 661 yards and six touchdowns, with injuries seemingly hampering his ability to emerge as a true leader in a Bears pass-catching corps that also features wideouts DJ Moore and Luther Burden, as well as tight ends Colston Loveland (concussion) and Cole Kmet, all of whom remain under contract for 2026.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Duplicates last week's line
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Odunze (foot) had two receptions on six targets for 44 yards in Sunday's 20-17 overtime playoff loss to the Rams.
Odunze interestingly managed to duplicate his receiving line from last week's wild-card round win over the Packers (2-44-0 on six targets). Unlike last week, the Bears were unable to clutch out a victory against the Rams, bringing the team's 2025 campaign to a close. The 2024 first-round pick wound up missing the final five games of the regular season due to a foot injury, finishing his sophomore campaign with a 44-661-6 receiving line across 12 regular-season starts. Odunze was likely playing through that same injury in his two postseason appearances, so fantasy managers shouldn't scrutinize those performances when evaluating the talent for the 2026 season.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Active versus Rams
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Odunze (foot) is active for Sunday's divisional-round game against the Rams.
Odunze was listed as limited in Wednesday's walkthrough as well as Thursday's practice before being deemed a full participant in Friday's session and listed as questionable to face Los Angeles. The wideout returned from a five-game absence in this past Saturday's wild-card win over the Packers, en route to recording a 69 percent snap share and catching two of his six targets for 44 yards. With his active status this Sunday confirmed, Odunze is on track to maintain his key role in a Chicago WR corps that also features DJ Moore and Luther Burden. On the season, the 2024 first-rounder made his mark from a fantasy perspective by putting up a 44/661/6 receiving line on 90 targets over the course 12 regular-season outings.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Status in question for Sunday
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Odunze (foot) is listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional-round game against the Rams.
Odunze followed up a limited walkthrough Wednesday with a capped practice Thursday due to a lingering foot issue, but despite returning to a full session Friday, the Bears will wait to make a final decision on his availability for Round 2 of the playoffs. Meanwhile, fellow WR DJ Moore, who followed the same practice regimen this week due to a knee injury, doesn't have a designation for Sunday's contest. Ultimately, Odunze's status will be clarified about 90 minutes before a 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Limited practice listing Thursday
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Odunze (foot) was limited at practice Thursday.
Both Odunze and DJ Moore (knee) have logged back-to-back limited practice listings, which gives the WR duo one more opportunity to upgrade to full participation before the Bears assign injury designations ahead of Sunday's divisional-round game against the Rams. Odunze returned from a five-game absence in this past Saturday's wild-card win over the Packers en route to recording a 69 percent snap share, and with no reported setbacks, it's plausible that his listed limitations are maintenance-related.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Limited on practice estimate
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Odunze (foot) was limited at Wednesday's walkthrough.
In his return from a five-game absence in this past Saturday's wild-card win against the Packers, Odunze started and played the second-most offensive snaps (54 of 78) among Bears wide receivers behind DJ Moore (knee), but the former managed just two catches (on six targets) for 44 yards. Both wide receivers were estimated as limited to begin preparation for Sunday's divisional-round game versus the Rams, with Odunze dealing with his lingering foot injury and Moore his nagging knee issue, so their statuses bear watching as the weekend approaches.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Two grabs in return from injury
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Odunze brought in two of six targets for 44 yards in the Bears' 31-27 wild-card win over the Packers on Saturday.
Making his return from a five-game absence due to a foot injury to close out the regular season, Odunze finished second in both receiving yards and targets among Chicago's wideouts on the night. The second-year pro delivered noteworthy gains of 17 and 27 yards on his pair of grabs, making it an encouraging performance following the month-plus layoff. Odunze's conditioning and stamina should take another step forward during the forthcoming practice week ahead of next weekend's divisional-round clash.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Clear for wild-card round
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Odunze (foot) doesn't have a designation for Saturday's wild-card game against the Packers.
Odunze previously was deemed active for a Week 15 matchup with the Browns, but a late setback with his lingering foot injury spurred the Bears to rule him out not long before kickoff. To cap the regular season, he ended up missing five consecutive contests due to what has been termed a stress fracture in his foot. With a full practice under his belt Thursday, Odunze is in the clear to suit up Saturday, but how many snaps he'll be able to handle remains to be seen.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Limited in walkthrough practice
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Odunze (foot) was a limited participant in Tuesday's walkthrough practice.
Odunze missed the final five games of the regular season due to a stress fracture in his foot, an injury he first suffered in Week 13 and then aggravated while warming up in Week 15. The second-year wideout may need to upgrade to full participation by Thursday's practice to avoid taking an injury designation into the weekend, but quarterback Caleb Williams suggested to Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times earlier Tuesday that he's counting on the young receiver to suit up Saturday.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Questionable after practicing
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Odunze (foot) returned to practice Friday as a limited participant and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions, Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com reports.
The practice was Odunze's first since Dec. 12, which seemingly makes him a long shot to actually play this weekend. The Bears and Lions are scheduled for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Another DNP on Thursday
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Odunze (foot) didn't practice Thursday.
Odunze's next on-field work will be his first since Dec. 12 as he tends to a stress fracture in his foot. With Thursday's absence, he thus appears destined to miss a fifth game in a row to end the regular season. As long as Odunze is sidelined, the Bears will rely on DJ Moore, Luther Burden, Olamide Zaccheaus, Jahdae Walker and Devin Duvernay at wide receiver.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Still not practicing
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Odunze (foot) was a non-participant in practice Wednesday.
Odunze thus hasn't practiced since Dec. 12 due to a stress fracture in his foot and appears poised to end the regular season with five consecutive absences. The Bears can make a ruling on his availability for Sunday's game against the Lions as soon as they post Friday's injury report, and if he's ruled out, Chicago again may be short-handed in the receiving corps, as Luther Burden (quadriceps) was limited Wednesday after getting injured on the final play of this past Sunday's loss at San Francisco. Meanwhile, WR Olamide Zaccheaus, who sat out Week 17 due to illness, was a full practice participant Wednesday, joining DJ Moore, Jahdae Walker and Devin Duvernay as the healthy options at the position on the active roster.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Another DNP on Thursday
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Odunze (foot) was listed as a non-participant on Thursday's estimated injury report.
Odunze last took part in practice Dec. 12 due to a stress fracture in his foot that has bothered him for a good portion of the season. Because the Bears didn't hold a session Thursday, he'll have only one more opportunity for on-field work this week before the team potentially makes a ruling on his status ahead of Sunday's game at San Francisco. Fellow WR Luther Burden (ankle) was listed as limited for a second day in a row, so Chicago may be getting some reinforcements in the passing game if the rookie second-round pick is able to put an end to a one-game absence.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Expected to play again this season
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Coach Ben Johnson said Tuesday that Odunze (foot) is "right on track" in his recovery and is fully expected to play again this season, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.
"He's in a good spot," Johnson said of Odunze. "He's going to be able to help us this year." Odunze hasn't played since Week 13 due to a stress fracture in his foot and appeared to suffer a setback ahead of the Bears' Week 15 win over the Browns when he was announced as active but ruled out minutes before kickoff. The 11-4 Bears have already clinched a playoff spot but still have a chance at the No. 1 seed in the NFC. It's unclear if Chicago will push Odunze over the final two weeks of the regular season or let him rest his foot until the postseason.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Not expected to play Saturday
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Odunze (foot) is not expected to suit up for Saturday's game against the Packers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Odunze was initially listed as active for Chicago's win over the Browns, but he aggravated the stress fracture in his foot during pregame warmups and was made a late scratch. The 2024 first-round pick has not practiced since, and head coach Ben Johnson said Monday that "all options are on the table" for Odunze's recovery, including resting him ahead of the playoffs. With Luther Burden (ankle) also looking uncertain for Saturday's divisional matchup, Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay could be tasked with handling starting roles in three-wide sets behind DJ Moore.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: All options on table
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Bears head coach Ben Johnson said Monday that "all options are on the table" regarding the recovery of Odunze (foot), Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.
Johnson indicated that Chicago could consider shutting Odunze down for the time being in order for him to rest up in time for the playoffs, saying it may be necessary "to protect him from himself a little bit so he can help us down the road." Odunze had appeared primed to retake the field Week 15 against Cleveland, but he was made a late scratch after aggravating the stress fracture in his foot during pregame warmups. With Luther Burden (ankle) now considered day-to-day ahead of Saturday's divisional matchup against the Packers, it's possible Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay could be tasked with expanded roles in the receiving game behind DJ Moore and tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Out Sunday after late setback
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Odunze aggravated the stress fracture in his foot during pregame warmups and has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Browns, Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com reports.
After sitting out the Bears' Week 14 loss to the Packers, Odunze had been listed as questionable heading into Sunday following a trio of limited practices. The Bears felt comfortable making Odunze active for the contest, but they'll ultimately have to play a man down as a result of his late setback. With Odunze unavailable, Chicago will be left with receivers DJ Moore, Luther Burden and Olamide Zaccheaus and tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet as its main pass-catching options.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Optimism for Week 15
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There is optimism in the Bears organization that Odunze (foot) will be available to play against the Browns on Sunday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Odunze did not play against the Packers in Week 14 due to a foot injury. He earned the questionable tag for Sunday's game after failing to log a full practice during Week 15 prep, but it appears the second-year wideout is on track to return against Cleveland. Odunze's official status may not be known until the Bears announce their list approximately 90 minutes before the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, which would give fantasy managers time to explore their options in case the 2024 first-rounder is not cleared to suit up. DJ Moore, rookie second-rounder Luther Burden, Olamide Zaccheaus and tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet would all be slated for more targets from quarterback Caleb Williams in the event that Odunze doesn't play.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Puts in limited practice
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Odunze (foot) was a limited practice participant Thursday.
Chicago had estimated Odunze as a limited participant for Wednesday's walk-through session, but Thursday marked the first time the second-year wideout had actually taken the field for a practice in more than two weeks. Odunze, who is working his way back from a stress fracture in his foot, is a candidate to play Sunday versus the Browns, but he may have to upgrade to full participation in Friday's practice to avoid taking a designation into the weekend. The potential return of Odunze this Sunday would leave fewer reps to go around for rookie Luther Burden, who drew six targets and played a career-high 71 percent of the offensive snaps in a Week 14 loss to the Packers.
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Bears' Rome Odunze: Listed as limited Wednesday
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Odunze (foot) was listed as limited on Wednesday's estimated injury report, Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune reports.
After missing all three Week 14 practices and being ruled out for this past Sunday's game at Green Bay, Odunze was revealed to be dealing with a stress fracture in his foot that left him week-to-week, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Such a prognosis, even from an NFL insider, typically results in a multi-game absence, but Odunze's listing to start Week 15 prep indicates he has a chance to return Sunday against the Browns. How he fares in practice Thursday and Friday likely will be key in that regard.
