Bears get a huge sigh of relief following latest injury update regarding first round pick Rome Odunze
Earlier on Monday, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus dropped a bombshell while addressing reporters at Halas Hall after mentioning that first round wide receiver Rome Odunze was to undergo an MRI on a knee injury suffered in Week 1.Compared to the other injuries at the position, Eberflus noted that he was concerned about the […]
Earlier on Monday, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus dropped a bombshell while addressing reporters at Halas Hall after mentioning that first round wide receiver Rome Odunze was to undergo an MRI on a knee injury suffered in Week 1.
Compared to the other injuries at the position, Eberflus noted that he was concerned about the severity of Odunze's injury compared to Keenan Allen and DJ Moore.
According to multiple reporters, Odunze suffered a Grade 1 MCL strain and is considered week-to-week going forward. Jordan Schultz added that Odunze will get a second opinion. For the time being, this is the best news the Bears could hope for.
It's believed Odunze suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Eberflus noted he's not sure exactly what play the injury occurred but multiple beat writers potentially pinpointed the play.
Based on what everyone could tell, Odunze suffered the injury while blocking near the sideline on a run by Velus Jones Jr. Jones and two Titans defenders rolled into the back of Odunze in a scary looking collision. Here's the play.
As Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic noted earlier today, Odunze was on the field on the following play, a 20-yard run by running back D'Andre Swift. After the play, Odunze hobbled over to the sideline and did not return to the field for the remainder of the afternoon.
Now that the extent of Odunze's injury is known, the Bears will have to switch things up offensively. The Bears only had four active wide receivers on Sunday, excluding Jones who was mainly used out of the backfield: Moore, Allen, Odunze, and Deandre Carter. Second-year Tyler Scott was a healthy inactive. Odunze played 43 offensive snaps (77%) in the win on Sunday and had one reception for 11 yards.
With Odunze now out for the next few games, the Bears will have to rely more on Allen and Moore to carry the load at the position. Expect to see offensive coordinator Shane Waldron utilize more 2-TE personnel with Carter/Scott mixing in as the third wide receiver. This will allow the Bears to utilize the trio of veteran tight ends (Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, and Marcedes Lewis) more effectively over the next few games.
The Bears also have a big bodied wide receiver on the practice squad in Collin Johnson, whom the Bears could call upon as a game day elevation while Odunze recovers from his knee injury.
Matt Eberflus gives injury updates on the Bears top pass catchers including concerning news about a top rookie
Could be something major to monitor.
