It has been an outstanding season for the Bears. Under the guidance of new head coach Ben Johnson, the team dominated the NFC North, but the playoffs are now presenting a much bigger challenge for Williams and company.

After their Wild Card victory over the Green Bay Packers, the Bears lost two of Williams’ key teammates for the remainder of the season. Now, reports indicate that another crucial player may not be available for the Divisional Round matchup against the Rams.

Who could miss the game against the Rams for the Bears?

The Bears listed Rome Odunze as questionable for Sunday’s game on their Friday injury report. The wide receiver has been dealing with a foot injury that sidelined him for the final month of the regular season.

Odunze returned for the Wild Card game against the Packers, but it appears the injury resurfaced afterward. He finished the game with two receptions on six targets for 44 yards.

While Williams has shown he can operate without Odunze, the presence of the former first-round pick clearly elevates the offense. It remains unclear whether Odunze will miss the game, but his appearance on the injury report suggests his workload could be limited.

Caleb Williams needs Odunze, but not everything is lost for the Bears

Against the Packers, Caleb Williams found a reliable partner in tight end Colston Loveland, who helped exploit Green Bay’s defense. Loveland caught eight passes for 137 yards, and although he didn’t score, his production was crucial in moving the chains and securing the win.

Williams will also continue to rely on DJ Moore, who remains the Bears’ top receiving option. Still, having Odunze available—even in a limited role—could prove vital against the Rams’ strong defensive unit.

The wide receiver has emerged as one of Caleb Williams’ primary targets throughout the season, despite missing the last four games alongside his teammates.

For this crucial matchup at Soldier Field, and despite being listed as questionable on the NFL’s official site, Odunze told the media he intends to play, but he is “following their plan.” He also added that his status is still “up in the air,” though he “felt pretty good” on the practice field Friday.

What injury is Odunze dealing with?

Rome Odunze is currently recovering from a stress fracture in his left foot, a condition he has been dealing with since late October 2025. While he initially played through the discomfort, the team eventually shut him down for the first time ahead of their Week 14 game against the Packers.

The WR attempted a comeback shortly after, but he suffered a significant setback during pre-game warm-ups prior to the Week 15 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

A reliable weapon for Caleb Williams

In the 2025 NFL season, Rome Odunze has emerged as a key cornerstone of the Chicago Bears’ passing attack and a premier target for quarterback Caleb Williams.

Throughout 12 games, the second-year receiver has recorded 44 receptions for 661 yards and 6 touchdowns, showcasing a reliable connection with his fellow 2024 first-round pick.

Odunze’s explosive playmaking ability is highlighted by his impressive 15.0 yards per catch, frequently serving as a vertical threat and a red-zone favorite for Williams.

The 2024 NFL Draft saw the Bears use the No. 9 overall pick in the first round to select Rome Odunze, one of the standout stars from the Washington Huskies. While his rookie season numbers were far from disappointing, it’s well known that adapting to the league can often be more challenging than expected for any young player.

Despite that, and using it as motivation to further improve—not just his stats, but also his overall performance to help elevate his teammates— the wide receiver told the media he feels much more comfortable heading into the new season, something his team will no doubt appreciate.

“It’s a different game than college football,” Odunze said, via Jayna Bardahl of TheAthletic.com. “There are different windows, different ways to get open, and there’s a different pace that you have to get adapted to. Having a full season under my belt, I feel like I’m aware of those things. I can now play the game freely in a way that I know where I need to be when I need to be there.”

The former Huskies standout had 54 catches for 734 yards and three touchdowns during his NFL rookie season, but with a year in the league under his belt, he’s hoping to be an even bigger asset to his team in the upcoming campaign.

Can the Bears take the next step this season?

The Chicago Bears are entering a new era with QB Caleb Williams under center and high expectations to match. With Ben Johnson now calling the shots as head coach, they are aiming to become a real threat in the NFC North against division rivals like the Packers, Lions, and Vikings.

Chicago continued to add firepower on offense by selecting tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The former Michigan standout brings size, athleticism, and versatility to a young unit already featuring promising wideout Rome Odunze.

With a revamped coaching staff and a core of young, explosive playmakers, the Bears are building toward a competitive future. If Williams develops quickly and the new additions click, Chicago could surprise a lot of people this season.

Breaking down the Bears’ first games

• vs Minnesota Vikings, September 8th
• @ Detroit Lions, September 14th
• vs Dallas Cowboys, September 21st
• @ Las Vegas Raiders, September 28th
• Bye Week

As expected, they used the No. 1 selection to get QB Caleb Williams. Then, they made sure to get him an elite weapon on the same timeline, taking Washington star WR Rome Odunze.

Unfortunately, it seems like the Bears didn’t get to see their new weapon on the field on Saturday. According to Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk, Odunze suffered a nagging hamstring injury and was forced to miss practice.

Rome Odunze Suffers Hamstring Injury

“Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze practiced on the first day of rookie minicamp in Chicago, but he is missing Day Two,” read the report. “The Bears announced today that Odunze is sitting out Saturday practice because of hamstring tightness.”

There’s Optimism In Chicago

Fortunately for the Bears and their fans, it doesn’t seem like the injury is too serious. Also, it seems like Odunze and Caleb Williams have already hit it off on the field:

“That comes after Odunze was on the practice field and looking good Friday, catching multiple passes from Caleb Williams — a combination the Bears hope will continue for many years to come,” Smith added. “From all indications, Odunze’s hamstring issue is not serious, and the decision to hold him out is more about playing it safe than about any concern about a long-term injury.”

This is perhaps the most exciting time to be a Chicago Bears fan. So, it only made sense that the team decided to take a cautious approach with one of their faces of the future.

The Bears will most likely be the most improved team in the league last season, and while the NFC North Division is stacked with talent, they have to like their chances against anybody.