After drafting them first and ninth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears had high expectations for the duo of quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze. While Williams has had a good season, Odunze saw his regular season shortened when he went down on Black Friday in Week 13.
After missing the last five weeks of the season, Odunze was able to get off the injury report ahead of Chicago’s Super Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Green Bay Packers. However, through two quarters tonight, he’s been a no-show.
What Happened to Chicago Bears WR Rome Odunze?
Odunze got off to a hot start in 2025, finding some consistent chemistry with Williams in their second season. He started the season scoring five touchdowns in the first five games, along with snagging 20 of 35 targets for 296 yards.
While he cooled off as the season progressed, he remained a vital part of the Bears’ offense, providing Williams with a solid and productive set of hands to help move the offense down the field.
So after being a full participant at practice this past Thursday, Odunze was removed from the injury report, returning to the lineup for the Bears’ third matchup against the Packers in six weeks.
MORE: 2026 3-Round NFL Mock Draft: Bengals Land Franchise Defender, 49ers Find Brandon Aiyuk Replacement
When asked about his return against Green Bay, he explained, “I can definitely provide an asset to this offense. It’s tough being out for five weeks and having to be on the sideline and have all that happen and go through that, the ups and downs of the season, and not being able to contribute. As long as I have the option to be out there and contribute, I’m going to give it my all. I believe I can make a difference.”
Unfortunately for Odunze, he’s failed to make his presence felt on Saturday Night through two quarters. As the Bears head into the locker room at halftime, Odunze has been targeted just once by Williams, and he was unable to catch the pass.
Despite being without Odunze for the last month of the season, the Bears’ offense has still performed well, ranking as the 10th overall offense in the NFL according to PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric, with an impact score of 79.5.
Facing a 21-3 hole at halftime, Chicago needs to find a way to wake the offense up if it wants to pull off another unthinkable second-half comeback.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
