Reports: Bears rookie WR Rome Odunze dealing with left MCL sprain

Chicago Bears rookie receiver Rome Odunze has a left MCL sprain, multiple media outlets reported Monday night.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus said the injury occurred while Odunze was engaged in a blocking assignment. Odunze was scheduled to get an MRI earlier Monday, and Eberflus initially wasn’t sure of the severity of the injury.

We’ll see,” Eberflus told reporters. “I don’t have enough information yet.”

Odunze, the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, caught one pass for 11 yards on Sunday in Chicago’s season-opening 24-17 win against the Tennessee Titans.

Reports: Bears rookie WR Rome Odunze dealing with left MCL sprain | Sports | albanyherald.com

His second-quarter reception was one for the highlight reel, as Odunze leaped to snag a ball that had bounced off a defender’s helmet. Odunze fumbled after the reception, but it was recovered by teammate Teven Jenkins, setting up a Cairo Santos field goal for a 17-3 halftime lead.

Odunze, 22, caught 92 passes for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 games in his final season at the University of Washington in 2023.

Rome Odunze injury: Chicago Bears offer scary update on rookie wide receiver

While all the focus was on Caleb Williams’ struggles during his rookie debut in the Chicago Bears’ victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, it was an uneventful debut for rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze.

If anything, the way offensive Shane Waldron drew up routes for the Bears on Sunday appeared cluttered as there were often times that Odunze was finishing in the same spot as Keenan Allen. On the day, Odunze had one catch (through way of a deflection) for 11 yards. Odunze was targeted 4 times but otherwise, it was a silent debut for the 2024 ninth overall draft pick.

Rome Odunze: Chicago Bears rookie WR to have MRI on his knee

While speaking with reporters on Monday, Matt Eberflus may have provided clarity on why it was a silent first game for Odunze.

Rome Odunze suffers injury scare in Bears’ debut.

It’s never a comfortable feeling when it’s discovered after the fact that a player has to undergo an MRI for a knee injury. It’s even more concerning that the injury may have happened away from the ball.

Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze Unsigned on Eve of Rookies Reporting

An injury to Odunze came when there were also some concerns about Keenan Allen’s heel. Allen was targeted 11 times on Sunday but only had 4 receptions. One of those targets was a drop that Allen on a throw that would’ve been Caleb Williams’ first NFL touchdown. Throughout the game, Allen appeared to be limping, a sign that he re-aggravated a heel injury that had him on the injury report last week.

While providing the update on Odunze on Monday, Eberflus mentioned that the team isn’t concerned with Allen’s status for Sunday night’s game against the Houston Texans.

Second-year wide receiver Tyler Scott was inactive for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans. If Odunze is forced to miss time, chances are Scott will be the one to slide into the role of being the third receiver on offensive sets.