Rome Odunze Injury Raises Questions About Playing Against Panthers
Let me start with a disclaimer: at 100%, I believe Rome Odunze is the best wide receiver on the Chicago Bears.
His talent is undeniable, and if he can stay healthy, there is every reason to believe he can develop into one of the best receivers in the NFL and be one of the key cogs of the Ben Johnson machine.
That is exactly why the Bears need to think carefully about whether putting him on the field against the Carolina Panthers is worth the risk.
Odunze has made it clear that he believes he should be able to play Sunday. But there is a major difference between being available and being fully healthy.
The bigger concern is that Odunze has not appeared to be at 100%. He logged three limited practices, and the Bears have to consider whether rushing him back from a calf/ankle injury could create an even bigger problem down the road.
From a football perspective, the risk may simply outweigh the reward.
We have already seen what happens when Odunze is on the field but not fully capable of being himself. When he returned during the playoffs, he was not heavily involved in the offense, recording just two receptions for 44 yards in both games against the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams.
That does not mean Odunze cannot play through pain. It also does not mean he would be completely ineffective against Carolina. But if the Bears are getting a limited version of one of their most important offensive weapons, they need to ask whether playing him for one game is worth potentially compromising his availability for the rest of the season.
The Bears have bigger goals than winning one game in September.
A calf injury is also something that deserves caution. Lower-leg injuries can become more serious when a player returns before he is fully ready, and the last thing Chicago needs is for Odunze to suffer a more significant injury that could keep him off the field for an extended period, which would be a detriment.
For the Bears, sitting Odunze against the Panthers would not necessarily mean surrendering or playing scared. Instead, it could be a smart long-term decision.
Especially when Ben Johnson has an opportunity to use this game to learn more about the rest of its receiving depth. Jahdae Walker and Zavion Thomas could potentially see expanded opportunities, giving Ben Johnson a chance to evaluate what they can provide against a good NFL defense in a meaningful game.
The Bears cannot afford to think only about Sunday. Odunze is too important to the future of this offense. If giving him another week to recover means getting a healthier and more explosive version of him for the games ahead, that should be an easy decision.
Rome Odunze is a competitor, of course he wants to play when he can. But sometimes the best decision for a player is protecting him from himself. If Odunze is not close to 100%, the Bears should seriously consider sitting him against Carolina, a game in which I think the Bears can win without him.
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