The Chicago Bears are not saying just yet whether wide receiver Rome Odunze could play against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16’s prime-time matchup, but they are confident in saying that he will return before the season’s end.
During December 23’s press conference, Bears head coach Ben Johnson mostly played coy when asked about Odunze’s foot injury and how far the 2024 first-round pick has made it through his rehabilitation after missing the past three games for the team.
After a little deflection, though, Johnson eventually dropped the critical update.
“He’s right on track. He’s going to be in a good spot,” Johnson told reporters Tuesday, elaborating that he means that Odunze is “going to be able to help us this year.”
Odunze has been dealing with a stress fracture in his left foot since late October when he first popped up on the injury report with what was originally deemed a heel injury.
While Odunze played through the injury for several games, the Bears shut him down for Week 13’s first game with the Green Bay Packers. He then re-aggravated his foot injury during pregame warmups before Week 14’s home game against the Cleveland Browns, sidelining him for both the game against Cleveland and the second against Green Bay.
The Bears (11-4) will face off against the 49ers (11-4) in an NFC heavyweight matchup on Sunday Night Football in Week 17 at 8:20 p.m. ET on December 28.
Bears Could Rest Rome Odunze Until Start of NFL Playoffs
The Bears seem confident that Odunze will return before their season comes to an end, but they may want to wait a little longer after clinching a spot in the NFL playoffs.
Following Odunze’s setback in Week 14, Johnson told reporters that “all options are on the table” in terms of evaluating how to proceed with Odunze and his fractured left foot. He also alluded to the possibility of the Bears holding him out until the postseason.
“We’re going to do what’s best for Rome first and foremost,” Johnson said on December 15. “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.”
One week later, the Bears have guaranteed themselves a spot in the NFL playoffs with their 22-16 overtime victory over the Packers and are currently holding the No. 2 seed in the NFC. They could also potentially clinch the NFC North title — and one of the top three seeds in the conference — before even playing their next game, if the Packers lose to the Baltimore Ravens in their Week 17 Saturday Night Football matchup.
Odunze could certainly help them in their effort to win out and potentially nab the No. 1 seed — and the first-round bye and home-field advantage that comes with it — but the reflex to exhibit caution with him and preserve him until the playoffs seems a good one.
Will Luther Burden III Return for ‘SNF’ Against 49ers?
Odunze’s return, whenever it comes, will be a big deal to the Bears. After all, he had led the team in receptions (44), receiving yards (661) and receiving touchdowns (six) in the first 12 games before his injury. But Odunze is not the only injured Bears wide receiver.
The Bears are also still awaiting the return of standout second-round rookie Luther Burden III, who suffered an ankle injury against Cleveland in Week 14 and did not play in the rematch against the Packers in Week 15 after sitting out the week of practice.
Burden has the fifth-most catches (36) and fourth-most receiving yards (479) for the Bears through the first 16 weeks, but the Bears had been gradually increasing his snap count on offense since early November before his ankle injury. Coming in Week 17, he has received at least five targets in the passing game in each of his last five outings.
The Bears will likely provide their next update on Burden — and Odunze — when they release their first injury report for Week 17’s game with the 49ers on Christmas Eve. The final report will not be released until about 4 p.m. ET on Friday, December 26.
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