Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus called Rome Odunze “day to day” as the rookie wide receiver recovers from a sprained MCL in his left knee.
Odunze, the No. 9 pick in this year’s draft, stretched with the Bears before practice Wednesday but was not set to participate in individual or team drills after he injured his knee late in Sunday’s 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans.
Eberflus said the Bears were “blessed” that Odunze’s injury wasn’t more serious after he hurt his knee while blocking on a Velus Jones Jr. catch in the fourth quarter. Two Titans defenders tackled Jones into Odunze, who came up limping on the next play.
“When you have somebody fall on your leg like that and you have that type of deal, it’s always fortunate that it’s not that serious,” Eberflus said. “Very lucky that way, very fortunate.”
When Eberflus was asked whether Odunze, who had one 11-yard catch Sunday, might be classified as “week to week,” he said: “We’re in a good spot. It’s nothing serious, and we’re in a good spot for it.”
The Bears also practiced without wide receiver Keenan Allen, who has been dealing with a heel injury for weeks. Allen played Sunday, totaling four catches on 11 targets for 29 yards. But he spent several minutes in the medical tent at one point.
A heel injury also ended Allen’s career-best 2023 season four games early.
The Bears originally said they didn’t think Allen’s injury was serious, but it caused him to miss several practices at the end of training camp and is lingering into the season.
“I think it’s just about rest, and hopefully the rest helps,” Eberflus said. “And again, I can’t say it definitively right now, but I know that right now they’re telling me, ‘Hey, he’s going to rest this day, and we’re going to see where he is going to feel tomorrow to be able to do some practicing.’”
The Bears had only four wide receivers active Sunday — Odunze, Allen, DJ Moore and DeAndre Carter — plus receiver-turned-running back Jones. Second-year wide receiver Tyler Scott was a healthy scratch, but Eberflus said the injuries could present an opportunity for him this week.
“You’re looking for an opportunity, a crack in the door,” Eberflus said of his message to Scott. “Because it’s a strong receiving group that we feel that we have this year, and again, we still have to prove it. But I would say that (it’s an) opportunity. When that door opens, you take your opportunity and run with it.”
