Bears get big Rome Odunze injury update hours before Week 1 kickoff

Wide receiver Rome Odunze is expected to play against the Carolina Panthers despite being listed as questionable with a calf injury, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Odunze suffered the calf injury last week and was limited in all three practices leading up to Sunday’s game. Chicago officially listed him as questionable on Friday.

Rome Odunze was confident he’d play

Rapoport’s report confirms what Odunze said himself after Friday’s practice.

The third-year receiver told reporters he felt ready and planned to play, and called the injury as a strained right calf.

Ben Johnson had been more cautious earlier Friday, saying Odunze had looked good but emphasized that the Bears also needed to consider the long season ahead.

Barring a setback during pregame warmups, it now appears Johnson won’t have to open the season without one of his starting receivers.

Odunze caught 44 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns in 12 regular-season games last season. His 2025 campaign was interrupted by a foot injury that cost him five games, but the Bears have confirmed his current calf issue is a separate injury.

With Odunze expected to play, Williams should have his primary collection of young pass-catchers, Odunze, Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland, available to kick off the season.

Official confirmation will come when the Bears announce their inactive players approximately 90 minutes before kickoff.