The Chicago Bears seem unlikely to have wide receiver Rome Odunze available for their regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions after the latest update on the foot injury that has held him out of the lineup since late November.
According to the injury report, the Bears have held out Odunze from each of their first two practices for Week 18’s matchup with the Lions because of his enduring foot injury, an early indication that the former top-10 pick will miss his fifth consecutive game.
Odunze has been dealing with a stress fracture in his left foot since late October. While he initially played through the injury, the Bears shut him down for the first time for Week 14’s first game against the Green Bay Packers. He then experienced a setback in Week 15’s pregame warmups that prompted the Bears to shut him down for longer.
Since then, Odunze has been a non-participant in all of the Bears’ eight practices.
While Odunze could still improve his participation for Friday’s final practice, the Bears are unlikely to rush him back against the Lions after clinching the NFC North last week. They are still playing for their seeding in the 2025 NFL playoffs — either the No. 2 or the No. 3 — but it would make much more sense to preserve Odunze for the playoffs.
The Bears (11-5) will host the Lions (8-8) at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 4.
Bears Get Good News on Luther Burden III’s Injury
While Odunze is looking unlikely to play against the Lions in Week 18, the same cannot be said about standout rookie Luther Burden III, based on his practice participation.
Burden suffered an injury on the final play of the Bears’ 42-38 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and needed to take the medical cart into the locker room in the postgame, raising concerns about his availability for not only the Lions game but also the postseason.
Despite the Bears listing him with a quad injury in Week 18’s injury report, though, Burden has made steady progress throughout the week. He was a limited participant in New Year’s Eve’s first practice before upgrading to full participation on New Year’s Day.
The Bears should have an easier time resting Odunze if Burden clears the injury report and plays against the Lions on Sunday. The second-round rookie had career-highs in receptions (eight) and receiving yards (138) against the 49ers in Week 17 and hauled in the second touchdown of his young NFL career, a 35-yard bullet from Caleb Williams.
The Bears also have veteran Olamide Zaccheaus listed on the injury report with an illness, but he has fully participated in each of their first two practices despite it.
Will Caleb Williams Reach 4,000 Yards vs. Lions?
The Bears might not have a do-or-die moment waiting for them in Week 18’s rematch with the Lions, but Williams will have a chance to make elusive franchise history.
After throwing for a season-high 330 yards against the 49ers, Williams needs just 270 passing yards in the final game against the Lions to become the franchise’s first 4,000-yard passer. The task will be easier said than done against a division rival, but the feat is attainable for Williams, who has four games this season with at least 280 passing yards.
Williams can also nab surpass Erik Kramer (3,838 yards) and nab the single-season franchise record for passing yards with just 108 passing yards against the Lions. Four more touchdown passes would also tie him with Kramer’s touchdown record (29).
While Williams might have an easier time chasing the records with Odunze in the lineup, he should still have plenty of help with D.J. Moore, Colston Loveland and Burden all hovering around the same 600-yard mark in terms of receiving yards.
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