With Bears coach Matt Eberflus saying he wants to wait until close to kickoff Sunday night before deciding on the availability of receivers Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, the Bears promoted receiver Collin Johnson from the practice squad Saturday and put him on the team flight to Houston.
Allen, who has been nursing a heel injury since last month, and Odunze, who suffered a Grade 1 sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee last week, are listed as questionable. Johnson stood out in the Bears’ first preseason game with two touchdown catches against the Texans before an injury hampered him the rest of camp.
The Bears also put center/guard Ryan Bates, who has been fighting a shoulder injury since before training camp, on injured reserve. Bates, who shared time with right guard Nate Davis in the season opener, will be forced to miss at least four games.
The Bears also promoted long snapper Scott Daly to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.