The Chicago Bears are currently working through “all options” with injured wide receiver Rome Odunze before Week 16’s rematch with the Green Bay Packers, including potentially shutting him down until the NFL playoffs next month.
Odunze became a last-minute inactive for the Bears in Week 15’s win over the Cleveland Browns after he reaggravated the stress fracture in his foot during pregame warm-ups. As a result, the 2024 first-round pick missed the second game of his young NFL career.
The following day, Bears head coach Ben Johnson confirmed that Odunze had a “little reaggravation of the foot” before the Browns game, but he added that the team would not know the extent of his injury until December 16 after he undergoes more testing.
According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, though, Johnson also indicated that “all options are on the table” with Odunze, including the possibility of protecting him from himself and holding him out for some — or all — of their remaining three regular-season games.
“All options are on the table,” Johnson said, via Cronin. “There may be a case that we need to protect him from himself a little bit so he can help us down the road.”
Resting Rome Odunze Might Give Bears Best Chance
The Bears would certainly prefer to have Odunze — their No. 9 overall pick in 2025 — available for their consequential rematch with the Packers at Soldier Field. But with a playoff berth nearly in hand, a long-term vision might better suit Chicago’s chances.
Odunze has broken out as the Bears’ most productive wide receiver in 2025, becoming a favorite target for quarterback Caleb Williams. Even after missing the past two games, he still leads them in catches (44), receiving yards (661) and touchdown catches (six). To have him back in the fold against a banged-up Packers defense could do wonders.
The Bears, however, have shown throughout the season that they are plenty willing to spread the ball around to their other pass-catchers under Johnson’s offensive tutelage. Aside from Odunze, six other players have at least 20 receptions in the first 14 games, with veteran DJ Moore — who caught two touchdowns this week — not far behind him.
While every game counts with a playoff bid on the line, the Bears should have multiple opportunities to punch their ticket to the postseason over the final three weeks. They can even clinch a berth this week if they defeat the Packers and the Detroit Lions lose.
That gives Chicago great odds to return to the postseason for the first time since 2020 — and all the more reason to consider resting Odunze until they have hit do-or-die time.
Luther Burden’s Status Also Unclear for Packers Game
The Bears have the depth to withstand a short-term absence for Odunze, but they may have more than one wide receiver injury to worry about when they host the Packers.
Bears second-round rookie Luther Burden III also sustained an ankle injury over the weekend, bowing out in the third quarter and putting his short-term status in jeopardy.
“Luther has an ankle that we need to take a look at,” Johnson said Monday. “Hopefully, [we] will have more information tomorrow [on Tuesday, December 16].”
While it is likely too early to fret about Burden’s availability, his status will be one of the most important to watch throughout the week of practice before the Packers game. He has stepped up in Odunze’s absence for the Bears’ passing offense, hauling in a career-high six receptions for 84 yards against the Browns before exiting the win early.
If the Bears find themselves without Odunze and Burden against the Packers, they may have to carve out bigger roles for veteran Devin Duvernay and rookie Jahdae Walker.
The Bears (10-4) will host the Packers (9-4-1) at 8:20 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 20.
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