The Chicago Bears are looking like they will have wide receiver Rome Odunze back in the mix for Week 15’s home game against the Cleveland Browns.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears are “optimistic” that Odunze will play against the Browns on Sunday, December 14, after the former top-10 draft pick missed his first career NFL game in Week 14 because of a stress fracture in his foot.
“The Bears are optimistic that WR Rome Odunze (foot) plays on Sunday, source says,” Rapoport wrote on X late on December 13. “He’s listed as questionable and missed last week.”
Odunze — listed as questionable on the injury report — seemed to make progress with his foot injury throughout the week, returning to limited participation for all three of the Bears’ practices after the fracture kept him sidelined for every session in Week 14.
If cleared, Odunze should offer a significant boost to the Bears’ passing offense. He is still their leader in receptions (44), receiving yards (661), touchdown catches (six) and targets (90) despite missing last week’s game. He is also a trusted target for quarterback Caleb Williams who sometimes acts as his safety net, due to their established chemistry.
The Bears (9-4) will kick off against the Browns (3-10) at 1 p.m. ET.
Will Bears Hold Rome Odunze to Snap Count vs. Browns?
Rapoport’s report suggests Odunze will play against the Browns in Week 15, but being active is not the same as being active — especially if the Bears are trying to play it safe.
The Bears could realistically hold Odunze to a snap count against the Browns that may result in less production than his usual leading-man efforts. As much as he contributes, they can afford to limit him with the wealth of receiving talent they have on their roster, including fellow wide receivers DJ Moore, Luther Burden III and Olamide Zaccheaus.
Tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet have also established themselves as viable downfield or red-zone targets for Williams, giving them plenty of slack without Odunze.
That’s not to say Odunze won’t be involved. While the Bears will want to make sure they do not give him more than he can handle on his recovering foot, he can make an impact for them against the Browns and their top-rated passing offense, even in a smaller role.
Even still, it might be wisest for Chicago to take things slow with Odunze to ensure that he is in tip-top condition for their final stretch against three NFC playoff contenders.
Bears Have Light Injury Report for Browns Matchup
The Bears will make their final decision on Odunze’s availability roughly an hour before kickoff when they release their list of game-day inactives, but he is the only player with an injury designation whose status against the Browns is still hanging in the balance.
In a stroke of good luck, the Bears will take a light injury report into Week 15’s matchup with the Browns. They only had to rule out two players — running back Travis Homer (ankle) and cornerback Kyler Gordon (groin) — following December 12’s third practice.
Gordon is technically already off the report, having moved to injured reserve over the weekend with the groin injury that he sustained in Week 14’s pregame warmups.
Every other player, aside from Odunze, finished the week without injury designations, which bodes well for the Bears as they try to keep their NFL playoff pursuit alive.
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