Bears Rookie Rome Odunze to Get MRI on Knee After Week 1 Injury

The Chicago Bears’ offensive performance in their opening game of the season fell short of expectations, and the team may now be without a key pass catcher. Head coach Matt Eberflus announced that rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze will undergo an MRI on his knee following an injury sustained during the matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

Coach Eberflus expressed hope that the MRI results would not indicate a serious issue but admitted uncertainty regarding the severity of the injury affecting the 22-year-old player. He believes the injury may have occurred while Odunze was engaged in blocking during the game.

“The concern is Rome’s knee. We will have to see where that is, and he’s getting an MRI today. Hopefully, he will be fine,” Eberflus stated.

If Odunze ends up missing games, the Bears will likely rely on other wide receivers such as DeAndre Carter and Tyler Scott to step into his role.

In the game against the Titans, Odunze recorded one catch for 11 yards on four targets as the Bears managed to secure a 24-17 victory. The team struggled statistically, recording fewer total yards, passing yards, rushing yards, yards per play, and first downs than their opponents. Despite these challenges, they found a way to win.

During the same matchup, fellow wide receivers DJ Moore and Keenan Allen briefly left the game to tend to injury concerns but were able to return and finish. Eberflus mentioned that his primary worry lies solely with Odunze’s situation, stating, “The only real concern we have is Rome.”

Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had a challenging outing, accumulating only 93 passing yards with 14 completions out of 29 attempts, failing to score any touchdowns and avoiding interceptions. D’Andre Swift led the Bears in rushing with 30 yards off ten carries, while DJ Moore topped the receiving category with 36 yards on five receptions, the highest among the Bears players that day.

The Bears now look ahead to their next challenge as they prepare to meet the Houston Texans in Week 2. The Texans are coming off a close victory against the Indianapolis Colts, winning 29-27 in their opening game. With the potential absence of Odunze, the Bears will need to step up to continue their momentum.