Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze hasn’t played in a game since Nov. 28 — and doesn’t figure to on Sunday, either.
Odunze was one of three players who didn’t practice Thursday. Guard Jonah Jackson sat out with an illness one week after the team was ravaged by a virus. Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka remains out with a concussion.
Cornerback Nick McCloud, who missed Sunday’s game because of an illness, was limited. So was left tackle Ozzy Trapilo, who has injuries to his knee and quad.
Cornerback Josh Blackwell (shoulder) and receiver Luther Burden (quad) were upgraded to full participation.
Odunze, who has been dealing with a chronic foot issue, hasn’t practiced since Dec. 12, when he was working toward playing against the Browns.
He was on the active roster two days later but his foot hurt during warmups.
Bears coach Ben Johnson maintains that Odunze will return this season — which would put him in line to play in the first round of the playoffs next week.
Flus on hot seat?
With questions swirling about his future as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Thursday that “ownership and accountability is right with me” this season.
“If there’s things that need to be improved, it falls on the coach and it falls on the assistant coaches and working with the players, making sure we’re doing the best we can to put them in position,” he said. “I take full accountability for that.”
Eberflus said it was hard to lose “an all-pro pass rusher that wins really quick” — Micah Parsons, whom the Cowboys traded to the Packers days before the season started. Parsons posted a recap of that comment with a laughing emoji Thursday.
Notes
• One day after having the Lions had six starters miss practice, that number dwindled to two. Right tackle Penei Sewell (ankle) and defensive tackle Alim McNeill (abdomen) didn’t practice Thursday. Four starters were upgraded to limited: receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee/ankle), linebacker Alex Anzalone (concussion), left guard Christian Mahogany (illness) and safety Thomas Harper (concussion). Coach Dan Campbell said the Lions would be cautious playing injured players Sunday.
• Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said the Bears have to be aware of special teams fakes by the Lions, who have faked five kicks over the last two years and 15 over the last five.