The Chicago Bears offense struggled mightily in the team’s Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans, though wide receiver Rome Odunze may have an excuse.
Odunze, a rookie and the 9th overall pick in April’s NFL draft, caught just 1 pass for 11 yards on Sunday, September 8. On Monday, the Bears made public that Odunze will have an MRI to assess whether he has sustained a serious knee injury.
“Matt Eberflus said there’s concern for Rome Odunze’s knee,” Brendan Sugrue of USA Today’s Bears Wire reported via an X post. “He’s getting an MRI today.”
Both wideouts DJ Moore and Keenan Allen also exited Sunday’s game at different points due to injury concerns, though Eberflus told media members Monday that their issues aren’t to the level of Odunze’s.
“The only real concern we have is Rome’s knee,” Eberflus explained. “We’ll have to see where that is, and he’s getting an MRI today. We’ll see where it goes from there, and I’ll be able to let you know more on Wednesday.”
Allen battled a heel injury in the days leading up to the season opener but was able to get on the field. He caught 4 passes for 29 yards in the contest. Moore led the team with 5 catches for 36 yards.
Rookie QB Caleb Williams struggled all afternoon, completing fewer than 50% of his passes (14-of-29) for only 93 yards. He also took 2 sacks and finished the day with a QBR of 22.2.
The Bears came out on top of the Titans by a score of 24-17 due to a defensive touchdown as well as a score on special teams.
Caleb Williams Embraced Criticism for Poor Showing in NFL Debut With Bears
GettyQuarterback Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears takes the field before an NFL game against the Tennessee Titans in September 2024.
Williams owned his poor performance following the game, shouting out the defense and the special teams units for creating all 24 points the team scored on the way to a 17-point comeback victory.
He also emphasized that he doesn’t expect to have another performance like the one he produced on Sunday anytime soon.
“I think the most important thing is how we played as a team,” Williams said during a postgame interview. “And, obviously, big kudos to the defense, big kudos to the special teams. … It obviously wasn’t a game that I’m gonna play in the future and not the game that I wanted to play for my first game. But just kept fighting.”
Bears Have Tough Test Coming up Next Weekend Against Texans
GettyHouston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Chicago will need a better showing from Williams and the offense as whole, as well as a healthy roster, to turn their hard fought victory over the Titans into a winning streak.
The Bears head to Texas next weekend for a Sunday Night Football showdown with the 1-0 Houston Texans, who are led by C.J. Stroud and earned a playoff victory last season during the QB’s rookie campaign.
Chicago will stay on the road the following week, taking on the Indianapolis Colts on September 22.
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Bears Share Scary Injury News on Rookie WR Rome Odunze