Rome Odunze plans to turn long-awaited breakthrough into motivation for what’s next for him after the Bears’ bye week
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze has had some highs and lows over the first nine weeks of the season but is eager to continue building on his positive momentum after the bye week.
The first nine weeks of the 2026 season have been tough sledding for Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze, who’s experienced some highs and lows throughout the first-half of the season.
While he’s had some clutch plays at times, he’s also had some brutal mistakes as well such as some of the key drops he’s had this season. Overall, Odunze is third on the team with 32 receptions and second the team with 528 yards going into the bye week.
The main struggle for Odunze had been getting into the endzone (or catching his targets in the endzone). That finally changed last Sunday night when Odunze caught his first touchdown of the season in Week 9, after having five touchdowns in the first four weeks last season. It was a long-awaited breakthrough for the young receiver and he’s hoping to continue building off that positive momentum.
Rome Odunze is hoping Week 9 touchdown is a sign of things to come
“It feels great. Obviously, I’ve had my opportunities throughout the season but finally being able to point one on the stat sheet and on the scoreboard feels great,” Odunze said Friday on the Up & Adams Show. “I’m hoping that one will break the floodgates for all of them to come and I can start stacking them up. I’m trying to get double-digits by the end of the season, so I have work to do.”
The Bears are well aware of the threat and weapon Odunze can be in this offense. He can stress the defenses in a variety of different ways, while having a strong rapport with his quarterback. The team believes he has what it takes to make any play when the ball comes to him, and Odunze has that own internal confidence as well.
“I tell myself I’m a receiver that can do anything on the field,” Odunze explained. “If I need to catch the ball deep, I’m going to catch the ball deep. If I need the underneath stuff, I’m going to do that. If I need to go catch the ball on somebody’s head, I’m going to go do that. That’s just my attitude when it comes to wide receiver play and what I need to get done. This year it’s been an emphasis on those deep routes and third down conversions and making those things happen.”
That’s what makes some of those disconnects in those low moments so perplexing. It’s not a skill thing, nor a lack of confidence. Yet, those mental lapses keep showing up once a week it seems like. But, at the same time, Odunze continues to also make some of the most critical plays every single week.
Striving for consistency is a big point of emphasis for Odunze during the bye week
The numbers speak for itself showing how clutch Odunze has been for the Bears this season despite the hiccups he’s had at times. In the fourth quarter, Odunze leads the team with 129 receiving yards. On third and fourth downs, he also leads the team with 14 receptions for 205 yards and 12 first downs.
“I’ve been in those situations throughout our games to ice the game or help us go win. I see that as part of my role,” Odunze said. “Especially when it gets down to those late minutes and you gotta have big gains, I can get a big gain for us. I think they find me in those moments.”
During the bye week, Odunze’s goal is simply trying to figure out how to be a more consistent receiver throughout the entire game, not just in those gotta-have-it situations that he continues to come through in.
“The biggest thing for me is just being consistent. It’s the biggest thing,” Odunze added. “I feel like I have great flashes and some good consistency throughout the season, but the biggest thing for me is just making all of the plays that come my way consistently… The opportunities aren’t going to come 15 or 20 targets a game. For me, I just want to make the most of every play that comes my way and be consistent with that.”
Those opportunities will continue to come. Caleb Williams trusts him, Ben Johnson trusts him, and Odunze puts in the work to earn those opportunities in this offense. It’s just a matter of making the most of each opportunity that comes.
I get there have been some incredibly frustrating moments by Odunze this season, but I believe big things are in store for him over the second-half of the season and he can get back into a dominant stretch like we saw during the first four weeks last season. If he can, fans will feel a lot differently about him.
