Even as the Bears do everything they can to beat the Lions on Sunday and finalize their hold on the No. 2 playoff seed in the NFC, they probably won’t have top wide receiver Rome Odunze back until the playoffs.
Coach Ben Johnson reiterated Wednesday that Odunze hasn’t been ruled out for the season, but the stress fracture in his foot is keeping him sidelined. The Bears didn’t practice, but estimated that Odunze would’ve been out if they had.
If he doesn’t play Sunday, Odunze would finish his second season with 44 catches, 661 yards and six touchdowns. He was building off a solid rookie season and was on pace to have a chance at 1,000 yards when he got hurt, costing him the last four games.
The Bears believed Odunze was ready to return Dec. 14 against the Browns, but he aggravated the injury in pregame warmups and was a late scratch.
Rookie wide receiver Luther Burden, who had a career-best game Sunday with eight catches for 138 yards and a touchdown before hurting his quad on the final play, and the team said he would’ve been limited. Johnson believed he’ll be “just fine” for the Lions game.
Left tackle Ozzy Trapilo (knee and quad) would have been limited, as would backup cornerbacks Josh Blackwell (shoulder) and Nick McCloud (illness).
For the Lions, meanwhile, the week began with 11 players on the injury report. That’s of particular interest after coach Dan Campbell said Monday he is playing to win the game, but with the caveat that he’d lean toward sitting any injured players who are questionable.
Six starters missed practice Wednesday: wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, right tackle Penei Sewell, left guard Christian Mahogany, linebacker Alex Anzalone, safety Thomas Harper and defensive tackle Alim McNeill. Starting left tackle Taylor Decker and safety Avonte Maddox were limited.
