Rome Odunze is officially listed as questionable for the Bears’ season opener at Carolina on Sunday with a calf injury, but the third-year receiver said Friday he expects to be on the field. Chicago has not made a final call, and the answer will come with the inactives list roughly 90 minutes before kickoff.
What Odunze Said
After Friday’s practice, Odunze pushed back on the designation. He said he feels ready to go, doubts he should be questionable at all, was out there that day and plans on playing. That is the clearest signal yet that he expects to suit up.
Head coach Ben Johnson was more measured before practice, saying the plan was to get Odunze on the field Thursday and Friday and then assess him, that he had looked good, but that Chicago has a long season ahead and wants to do right by him long term.
The Injury Timeline
- Sept. 3: Odunze left the Bears’ final padded practice of the preseason early with a trainer.
- Early game week: He missed practice and Johnson called him day to day.
- Wednesday through Friday: Limited participant in all three sessions.
- Friday: Listed questionable on the final injury report.
The Bears have said the calf issue is unrelated to the stress fracture in his right foot that cost him the final five games of the 2025 regular season.
If He Sits
Luther Burden III takes on a heavier perimeter role, with tight end Colston Loveland and Kalif Raymond also in line for more work. Chicago traded DJ Moore to Buffalo this offseason, so the depth behind Odunze is younger than it was a year ago. Even if Odunze plays, a snap count below his normal load is possible in a game the Bears are favored to win.
The Bears’ Full Week 1 Injury Report
Questionable: QB Tyson Bagent (back), WR Rome Odunze (calf), OL Ozzy Trapilo (knee), DB Xavier Woods (groin). Carolina listed only edge rusher Patrick Jones II, who is out. Running back Jonathon Brooks is cleared for his first NFL game since December 2024.
2025 Production
Odunze caught 44 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games last season before the foot injury ended his year.
Related
Bears vs. Panthers preview and odds · Full Week 1 injury report · Week 1 inactives · NFL games Sunday
The Bottom Line
Odunze is questionable with a calf injury but said Friday he plans on playing. Treat him as a game-time call until the inactives post about 90 minutes before the 1 p.m. ET kickoff in Charlotte.