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Dallas Cowboys, Matt Eberflus
September 10, 2024 By  Chicago Bears, NFC North, NFL

Chicago Bears Rookie to Undergo MRI on Injured Knee

The Chicago Bears were supposed to field a high-flying offense around No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams at quarterback, but instead limped past the Tennessee Titans in a victory led by a suddenly stingy defense, but may be without one of the offense’s stars in coming weeks.

Chicago Bears, Rome Odunze
Aug 10, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus revealed Monday that No. 9 overall pick, wide receiver Rome Odunze will undergo an MRI on his knee following his NFL debut.

Odunze caught one pass for 11 yards in Sunday’s 27-17 Bears win over the Titans.

Chicago is counting on Odunze to play a vital role in No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams’ supporting cast, as the No. 3 wide receiver behind Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore, in what is expected to develop into an explosive offense.

Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams Struggles in NFL Debut

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Aug 17, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) celebrates his rushing touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday against the Titans, Chicago’s offense failed to produce the fireworks show some expected to see when Williams led Bears out onto Soldier Field.

Williams went through the growing pains young quarterbacks typically do, while completing 14-of-29 passing attempts for a meager 93 yards.

However, despite Williams’ lack of production, the former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback was pleased to pick up a victory in his first NFL game.

“Obviously, we didn’t perform how we wanted to (offensively),” Williams told reporters after the game. “We want to be the most efficient team out there, myself included. Didn’t perform the way I wanted to. I missed a few passes that I normally don’t miss. All these other things.”

Despite his lack of efficiency through the air, Williams’ mobility was on full display throughout the game, and the former USC standout seemed to be battling nerves and timing issues with his receivers, with several overthrows leaving big opportunities unrealized for the Bears’ offense.
Next Sunday night will be a far more daunting challenge when Williams leads Chicago against C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans in Week 2.
Chicago Bears, Caleb Williams
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws against the Tennessee Titans in the second quarter at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill., Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024.
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About Matt Lombardo

Matt Lombardo is a seasoned NFL reporter, with over 12 years of experience covering the league. In addition to his work at Gridiron Heroics, Lombardo covers the NFL for Heavy.com, is an on air sports contributor for FOX29 Philadelphia, and writes an NFL Substack "Between The Hashmarks." Lombardo is the former Senior NFL Insider of FanBuzz, and prior to taking that role was a national NFL reporter at FanSided where he hosted a weekly podcast "The Matt Lombardo Show." A former beat reporter for NJ Advance Media (Parent company of NJ.com and the Newark Star Ledger), Lombardo covered the Philadelphia Eagles from 2011 through the 2017 season before moving to cover the New York Giants for the Star Ledger for two seasons from 2018 through 2020. During his career to date, Lombardo has covered five Super Bowls, four NFL Drafts, multiple NFL Combines, and has had his work frequently featured in publications such as Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, and more. In addition to his journalism work, Lombardo is a strong on air presence and is a former sports talk radio host on 97.5 FM The Fanatic, Philadelphia's first FM Sports Station and the radio home of the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers.

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