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Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterSep 9, 2024, 08:13 PM ET
- Courtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.
CHICAGO — Rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze sustained a left MCL sprain during the Chicago Bears‘ 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans and is considered week-to-week, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Odunze, the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft, was injured while blocking on a play and was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday afternoon. Bears coach Matt Eberflus said he was unsure when the injury occurred but was made aware of it during the game.
Eberflus said he did not have enough information when asked about his level of concern.
“We’ll see where it is, and hopefully he’ll be fine,” Eberflus said.
The former Washington wideout, who led the FBS in receiving in 2023, appeared to sustain the injury while blocking for a screen pass to Velus Jones Jr. late in the fourth quarter. Odunze went down awkwardly near the Titans sideline when he was hit in the back of his left knee by Tennessee linebacker Harold Landry III as Landry tackled Jones to the ground.
Odunze stayed in the game for one more play before exiting. In his NFL debut, the first-rounder played 77% of Chicago’s offensive snaps and had one catch for 11 yards. He spoke with reporters following the game in the Bears’ locker room and gave no indication that he was injured.
Wide receivers DJ Moore and Keenan Allen also sustained injuries during Sunday’s game, but Eberflus did not appear concerned with the status of either veteran as Chicago begins its preparations for its Week 2 game in Houston.
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After Jones made the transition from wide receiver to running back during training camp, the Bears kept five wide receivers on the 53-man roster between Odunze, Moore, Allen, return specialist DeAndre Carter and Tyler Scott, who was made inactive against the Titans.
Carter played 23% of offensive snaps against the Titans and churned out a 66-yard kickoff return to set up the Bears’ first scoring drive in the second quarter. The Bears also have receivers Collin Johnson and Samori Toure on the practice squad.
As Caleb Williams aims to move past his lackluster NFL debut, in which he threw for 93 yards and the Bears didn’t score an offensive touchdown, the rookie quarterback might be without a player who figured to become one of his top targets this season as Chicago gets ready for “Sunday Night Football.”
