Rome Odunze got off to a torrid start in 2025. Through his first seven games, he had 473 yards and five touchdowns. He looked well on his way to one of the best receiving seasons in recent Chicago Bears memory. Then things just kind of...went silent. Odunze has managed only 188 yards and one touchdown in his last five games. People wondered what had happened. It wasn't a lack of targets. Caleb Williams was still looking his way frequently. The receiver simply wasn't making the plays as he had before.
Now we know why.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network revealed that Odunze has been battling a stress fracture in his foot. From the sound of it, this has been going on for some time, meaning the receiver has endured it despite the obvious pain.
It is impossible to determine when the injury occurred. That said, Bears insider Adam Hoge of CHGO noted that Odunze's routes began to lose their sharpness around the time of the game in Cincinnati. That means he either suffered the injury the previous week in Baltimore or at some point during that game. It is remarkable that he managed to play through it for over a month.
The Bears must make a tough decision on Rome Odunze.
There is no question that he is a vital part of their offense. At the same time, his long-term health is essential to their success. As much as they'd love to have him back quickly, fractures don't heal easily. The smart thing for the Bears to do would be to shut him down for at least a couple of weeks. If the pain eases during that time, they could try bringing him back. Then again, perhaps the best course of action is to place him on Injured Reserve and sit him out for a month. It wouldn't help the Bears' playoff push, but they've shown they could navigate injuries to key guys before.
A healthy Rome Odunze could be a difference-maker if they do make the postseason. There is no question that either decision is a gamble. Based on how Ben Johnson has operated, it feels like a strong possibility the Bears will play it safe with Odunze. He will retool the offense around guys like D.J. Moore, Luther Burden, and Colston Loveland in the meantime. Chicago has alternatives. Ultimately, this must be about what is best for Odunze.
