While Chicago Bears wide receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III weren’t on the field Tuesday afternoon when practice at Halas Hall was open to reporters, coach Ben Johnson offered up some holiday hope.
It’s possible the Bears will be short-handed again Sunday night against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium, but a lot of time remains in a juggled work week due to the holiday.
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The Bears practiced Tuesday — a typical day off for players — so that players can be off for Christmas on Thursday. They will practice again Wednesday, when the first injury report of the week will be released, and Friday.
Odunze has missed the last three games with a foot injury. Burden was held out of Saturday’s win over the Green Bay Packers with an ankle injury. Getting both back would be a boost for quarterback Caleb Williams, who has leaned on veteran DJ Moore of late. Moore has nine catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns over the last two games.
Odunze scored five touchdowns in the first four weeks of the season but averaged only 37.6 yards per game in the five games since first appearing on the injury report before the Nov. 2 game in Cincinnati. The Bears gave him a week off Dec. 7 against the Packers and hoped he would be able to play Dec. 14 against the Cleveland Browns, but he aggravated the foot injury in pregame warmups and now it’s a waiting game.
The rookie Burden has been another big-play option for Williams.
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Johnson said Odunze, who leads the team with 15 yards per reception, has been rehabilitating and is “right on track,” although the team hasn’t offered any sort of timeline for his recovery to know what that track is.
“He’s going to be in a good spot,” Johnson said.
Pressed on what that means, Johnson offered the best update yet.
“He’s going to be able to help us this year,” he said.
Whether “this year” means in 2025 or before this season is over, it’s good news either way. The next clue, at least in terms of Sunday’s game, will appear on Wednesday’s injury report.