On their very first play against the Giants on Sunday, the Bears threw to Rome Odunze. And they just kept doing it.
He was instrumental in their 24-20 comeback victory and finished with a team-high six catches on 10 targets for 86 yards and a touchdown after a week in which he had to answer questions about his father, James, posting on social media that coach Ben Johnson needed to get him the ball more.
“Thanks, Dad,” Odunze joked when asked about catching a nine-yard pass to open the game.
He continued, “I already know. I know what the trolls is on.”
Any controversy about his father’s posts was overblown given that Odunze has received more targets (69) than any other Bears player by a wide margin and clearly is their No. 1 receiver. The frustration his dad vented came after Odunze had three targets and no catches last week in the win over the Bengals.
“I just do my job and try to maximize the plays that come my way. I said the same thing last week when I had zero catches,” Odunze said. “That’s my mindset. I feel I can be a contributor in the passing game — so does my dad — and in the run game and everything else.”
