Rome Odunze has been dealing with a heel injury during the 2025 season, but recent reports indicate he was cleared to play and did suit up for Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He started the year strong, including a notable start to the season, but his production has fluctuated, with Week 9 featuring limited or no receiving yardage despite being a full-time starter. The Bears have described the issue as a “progressive” heel problem that Odunze has been managing, and the coaching staff has emphasized that the decision to play ultimately rested with Odunze and the game-day evaluation. Key points:
- Injury context: Odunze has managed a heel issue that affected practice participation at times, described as progressive and manageable, but not expected to sideline him long-term.
- Week 9 outcome: In the Bears’ Week 9 win over the Bengals, Odunze did not record a reception, marking a low point in target share for that game, though he remained a starter.
- Team perspective: Head coach comments and general reporting suggest the medical and coaching staff are cautious but supportive of his ability to play, with performance on tape weighing heavily in the final call.
- Fantasy context: Some fantasy outlets pegged Odunze as a potential big day, depending on usage, but the Week 9 game illustrated a mismatch between expectations and actual production.
If you want, I can pull up the latest game logs and injury status from the Bears’ and league outlets to confirm the most current status and provide a concise week-by-week timeline of Odunze’s health and usage for the remainder of the season.
