Odunze Expects to Play at Carolina Despite Calf Strain — SkimNews
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- Rome Odunze strained his right calf in practice on Sept. 3, forcing him out early and causing him to miss Monday and Tuesday sessions, which he attributed to muscle fatigue from six-plus weeks of training camp.
- Odunze returned to practice Thursday as a limited participant and told reporters Friday: "I'm feeling ready to go... I plan on playing," despite the questionable tag.
- Coach Ben Johnson said the Bears are "hopeful" the third-year receiver will be available against the Panthers, adding the team wants to "do what's right for him for the long term as well."
- In 2025, Odunze missed five games with a stress fracture in his foot, finishing with 44 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns after scoring in each of the Bears' first four games.
- Odunze said the foot healed without surgery and that his body feels "great," clarifying an earlier "new normal" comment by saying he isn't dealing with a chronic issue and his foot felt "amazing" this offseason.
Why it matters: The Bears are balancing Week 1 competitiveness against long-term health for a third-year receiver coming off a foot fracture that cost him five games in 2025; whether Odunze suits up Sunday signals how aggressively Chicago will manage his workload after a camp-long calf issue.
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