The Chicago Bears are being careful with wide receiver Rome Odunze .
Odunze missed practice on Saturday, May 11, because of a concerning problem with his hamstring during the rookie minicamp.
“Bears rookie WR Rome Odunze has tightness in his hamstring and will not participate in today’s rookie camp practice,” According to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune via X.
Bears Could Justify Keeping Rome Odunze Sidelined for a Long Time Using Recent NFL Example
GettyChicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze and quarterback Caleb Williams.
Wiederer’s report does not mean Odunze is injured or will miss a significant amount of time. However, hamstring issues are known for being tricky and can persist.
These issues are especially problematic for wide receivers, as shown by Justin Jefferson’s situation with the Minnesota Vikings last season. Jefferson strained his hamstring against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5 and the Minnesota team kept him out of play for eight weeks (seven games and a bye) to make sure he did not hurt the muscle again and miss more time.
Odunze has just started his career in Chicago, and the team has several months to get him ready to play by Week 1 in early September. Every practice session is important during the offseason, particularly for a rookie with high expectations and excitement surrounding his professional debut.
However, it would not be surprising if the Bears go beyond regular caution and decide to keep Odunze out for several days, or even for the entire duration of the rookie minicamp and beyond, considering his status as the No. 9 pick in this year’s NFL draft and his partnership with fellow rookie and No. 1 overall pick quarterback Caleb Williams.
Bears Could Boast the Best Trio of WRs in NFL with Rome Odunze's Arrival
GettyWide receiver Rome Odunze of the Chicago Bears.
Odunze adds to the abundance of talent in Chicago’s receiver group, where he joins DJ Moore and Pro Bowl player Keenan Allen entering the 2024 season.
Allen made In 2023, Allen had 108 catches for 1,243 yards and 7 TDs for the for the Los Angeles Chargers , while Moore had a standout year with 96 receptions, 1,364 yards, and 8 TDs. Odunze had a stellar performance at the college level in 2023, leading the FBS with 1,640 receiving yardsfrom 92 catches, which included 13 TDs.
Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report announced Chicago’s receivers as the best in the NFL for the 2024 season after acquiring the trio of Moore, Allen, and Odunze over the last two years on May 9.
A shocking squad takes the top spot, with the Chicago Bears legitimately piecing together an elite group of wide receivers this offseason.
Odunze’s inclusion creates a complementary group of targets. Moore has always been at his best creating at the catch. Allen will work the short to intermediate portions of the field with efficient and reliable routes. The incoming rookie is a big target and legitimate vertical threat. Tyler Scott’s big-play potential can be thrown into the mix for good measure.
Two years ago, the Bears fielded arguably the league’s worst group of wide receivers. Now, they’re on the verge of claiming the best once they’re on the field and working together.
