LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears came away with a 24-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, but Rome Odunze injured his knee, requiring an MRI on Monday, head coach Matt Eberflus said.
On Monday night, multiple outlets, including Jordan Schultz, NFL Network, and ESPN, reported that an MRI showed an MCL sprain for Odunze — likely Grade 1 — and the receiver is considered week-to-week.
Odunze, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, appeared to injure his knee on a blocking play late in the fourth quarter. Velus Jones Jr. lined up in the backfield and caught a pass in the right flat, accelerating up field to gain eight yards. Odunze was blocking near the right sideline when two Tennessee Titans defenders hit Jones, who then rolled into Odunze.
As Kevin Fishbain from The Athletic pointed out, Odunze’s last play in game was the D’Andre Swift run that went for 20 yards. Odunze was again blocking and then limped off towards the sideline. The rookie’s only catch, which went for 11 yards, came off a deflection that was then fumbled but recovered by Teven Jenkins in a wild sequence.
Eberflus said he would be able to provide more information about Odunze on Wednesday, which is the next time the Bears head coach is scheduled to speak to the media.
If the Bears lose Odunze for any length during the season, it would be a major blow for the offense, especially since he was someone that would directly impact Caleb Williams and his growth throughout his rookie season.
Odunze didn’t have the most impactful debut, but potentially not having him available would change how offensive coordinator Shane Waldron could attack opposing defenses. The Washington Huskies alum played 43 offensive snaps in the Week 1 opener (77%), and with his size (6-foot-3, 215 pounds), is someone who can create mismatches when on the field.
The obvious players to fill in for Odunze would be DeAndre Carter, who played 13 offensive snaps on Sunday, and Tyler Scott, who was inactive against the Titans.
Scott is going into his second season in the NFL and provides significant speed, but what he doesn’t have that No. 15 has is size. Scott’s 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame doesn’t give the Bears that size the offense needs alongside DJ Moore and Keenan Allen when the team utilizes 11 personnel.
In Sunday’s victor over the Titans, Moore and Allen both left at various points in the game due to injuries they were dealing with at the time. Eberflus didn’t sound too concerned about their health going into the Week 2 matchup against the Texans on Sunday Night Football.
The Bears were fortunate to come away with a victory in Week 1, and the team would be even more fortunate if Odunze escaped the first game of the season without a major injury.
