Rome Odunze has been coping with a foot injury since late October. The second-year receiver will miss Week 16, and an extended absence is being considered by the Bears.
Odunze’s upcoming absence shall be his third in a row. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports he is taken into account week-to-week at this point, but a call will have to be made soon regarding a possible move to injured reserve. Head coach Ben Johnson recently noted Chicago could elect to shut Odunze down for a stretch.
“We’re going to do what’s best for Rome before everything,” Johnson said (via Fowler’s colleague Courtney Cronin). “I do know he desires to be on the market and helping. It’s hard to inform him no sometimes… So there could also be a case where now we have to guard him from himself a little bit bit and just make certain we get him right and he’ll give you the chance to assist us down the road.”
Moving Odunze to IR would see him miss the ultimate three weeks of the regular season but in addition the Bears’ wild-card game (within the likely event Chicago reaches the playoffs without securing the No. 1 seed within the NFC). Such a transaction would carry significant weight consequently, nevertheless it would allow Odunze to give attention to healing in full before making his return. The 23-year-old has been a focus within the Bears’ passing game when on the sphere, and that may little question proceed once he’s healthy.
Chosen ninth overall last 12 months, Odunze posted a 54-734-3 statline as a rookie. Like everyone related to the Bears’ offense, expectations were high for improvement this season. Odunze has delivered thus far with six touchdowns and a 15.0 yards per catch average in 12 games. A starting role will await him upon return, even though it stays to be seen when that may happen.
The Bears (10-4) will host the Packers (9-4-1) in a critical divisional matchup tomorrow night. Rookie wideout Luther Burden may even be absent for that game, leaving Chicago shorthanded on the position. Because the team continues to strive for top spot within the NFC North, the injury status of Odunze particularly shall be price monitoring.