Ben Johnson: Bears have to protect Rome Odunze from himself in injury rehab

The Bears could be without two of their best three wide receivers Saturday night against the Packers.

Coach Ben Johnson didn’t sound particularly optimistic when discussing the health of Rome Odunze, who has dealt with chronic foot issues for most of the season. He was cleared to play Sunday and was put on the team’s game-day roster but felt pain while warming up and was ruled out before kickoff.

“All options are on the table,” Johnson said Monday afternoon. “We’re going to do what’s best for Rome first and foremost. I know he wants to be out there and helping. It’s hard to tell him no sometimes. He just wants to be out on the field competing and contributing and helping our team win.

“So there may be a case where we have to protect him from himself a little bit and just make sure we get him right and he’ll be able to help us down the road.”

Rookie Luther Burden left the 31-3 win against the Browns with an ankle injury he suffered after catching a screen pass in the third quarter. Johnson made his injury seem less worrisome than Odunze’s — but he could still miss the Packers game.

“We’ll see how this week goes in terms of whether we will have him available for Saturday night or not,” he said. “But it’s more of a day-by-day type of deal with him.”

The Bears spent the offseason teaching the offense in a holistic manner, wanting their players to be familiar with all the receiver positions. to know all the different. Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams recently talked about how important that’s been for occasions when they have to shuffle players into new spots.

“We never want robots out there — guys that are just running the line that’s on the picture,” Johnson said. “We need guys that understand what the intent of the play is, so that when we get something we’re not anticipating, we’re able to make it right.”