Bears Give First Update on Allen, Odunze Injuries Ahead of Week 2 with possible return onfirmed
The Chicago Bears are in Halas Hall preparing for their Week 2 showdown. They will be traveling to play the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football.
Last week, Chicago started this off hot with a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans at Solider Field. They are looking to build on this but some key contributors are banged up.
Head coach Matt Eberflus was speaking to reporters on Wednesday and provided an update on Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze.
Eberflus revealed that Allen was getting a rest day on Wednesday and the team will evaluate him tomorrow. Meanwhile, Odunze isn’t practicing but is listed as day-to-day.
Heading into the season, the excitement was through the roof for this receiving core but just one week into the campaign, two main guys are dinged up.
Allen initially hurt his heel in mid-August but seemed to bang it up again in Week 1, when he briefly went to the medical tent. As for Odunze, Eberflus thinks he was hurt during a blocking play. The Washington product felt fine after the game but woke up with a sore knee the following day. It was revealed that he sprained his MCL and hasn’t stepped on the field this week.
Tomorrow will be a big day in determining if these guys will play but this wasn’t the best sign.
Chicago had big-time struggles offensively in Week 1, finishing with 148 total yards. Allen had four receptions for 29 yards, and Odunze tallied one catch for 11 yards.
The Bears are looking for a bounce-back performance on the offensive end but may have to do so without these two dynamic receivers.
Matt Eberflus spoiled the first Chicago Bears’ injury report for their Week 2 game against the Houston Texans when he told reporters earlier today that neither rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze nor veteran Keenan Allen were going to practice on Wednesday.
Odunze suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain against the Tennessee Titans and while national outsiders have referred to the injury as week-to-week, Eberflus gave the designation of day-to-day. Despite Eberflus’ optimistic designation, it remains unlikely that Odunze will be dressed against the Texans on Sunday.
Allen, who is indeed on the Week 2 injury report as well, looked uncomfortable during his Bears’ debut on Sunday. Allen was targeted 11 times but only came up with 4 receptions. Most notably, Allen dropped what would have been an easy touchdown while running a flat route toward the side of the end zone. It was after that play where there was a noticeable limp from Allen.
Ryan Bates remains limited with a shoulder injury, part of the reason the Bears alternated between right guards during Sunday’s win. The old adage in football is that if you have two quarterbacks, you don’t really have one quarterback. For the Bears, that applies to their right guard position.
The goal for the offensive line should be continuity. The idea that the Bears have a rookie quarterback in Caleb Williams playing with a revolving door at the right guard position does not translate to success. If Bates isn’t healthy, the Bears shouldn’t force the issue and remain with Nate Davis.
