The Nigerian-born American Football star Rome Odunze is still in doubt for a return from injury ahead of his team’s NFL season opener against the Carolina Panthers, as the Chicago Bears’ wide receiver is yet to fully recover from a knock he copped early this month.
Sports247 reports that Odunze bowed out during training on September 3rd and, though the Bears’ coach, Ben Johnson, spoke with optimism about the youngster making a return before Sunday’s National Football League (NFL) season opener, bigger worries are spreading about his availability.
While providing an update about Odunze’s injury, Johnson was less convincing, as he spoke during a press conference, but admitted the Nigerian-born lad was listed in Wednesday’s injury report as a limited participant in practice and the crew will watch him daily.
A report by Huskies Wire revealed, “After Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze was forced to miss five games in 2025 with a stress fracture in his foot, the former Washington Huskies superstar and No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft has popped up on the injury report again.
“While he’s dealing with another foot injury, head coach Ben Johnson stated that it’s not related to the issue that sidelined the 2023 Consensus All-American last year. The issue first popped up on Thursday, September 3, when Odunze was forced to leave practice early with the injury.
“As Johnson looks ahead to his second season, Odunze is expected to be a key piece of his offense, after establishing strong chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams across their first two seasons in the NFL together, and to lead a group of promising young pass catchers.”
The team’s gaffer admitted he is getting worried about the possibility of having Odunze in action this Sunday, but quickly added that assessments will be done on a daily basis heading into the game.
“I don’t believe he’ll be out there today, but we’re hopeful he’ll be out there on Sunday,” Johnson said about Odunze, who has played in 20 games and compiled 98 catches for 1,395 yards with nine touchdowns across his first two years in the league.
Sports247 adds that Odunze, who was born on June 3rd, 2002 in Utah, USA and later moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, when he was three, attended Bishop Gorman High School, where he was named the state’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year as a senior in 2019.
He played college football for Washington Huskies, where he was selected as a consensus All-American and runner-up for the national championship in 2023, following which the Nigerian-born ace was picked by The Bears ninth overall in the 2024 NFL draft.
