LAKE FOREST, Ill. (104.3 The Score) – Bears receiver Rome Odunze sounded a few alarm bells last week when discussing his return from a stress fracture in his foot last season.
Odunze made it seem as if the injury issue could linger as he enters his third NFL season.
“My new normal was kind of what I am going into,” Odunze said last week. “And I don’t think that’s anything that’s going to prohibit me from making plays, but I feel like with the break, it’s just like when you tear your AC (joint), it’s never really back to normal.”
For a player as important to the Bears as Odunze, those words drew concern. But head coach Ben Johnson isn’t worried about it. After all, Odunze has been working with the Bears during their offseason program – including during a three-day minicamp this week – and hasn’t shown any issues.
"He's out there, he says he feels great and he looks good to me,” Johnson said.
“He looks like the same old Rome.”
Odunze, who turned 24 last week, has 98 receptions for 1,395 yards and nine touchdowns in 29 games across his first two NFL seasons. He was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Odunze missed five games late in the 2025 season after dealing with the stress fracture in his foot. His first attempt to return from the injury was met with a setback prior to a December game at Soldier Field.
The Bears are counting on Odunze to be a key part of their passing offense this season. The team traded former top receiver DJ Moore to the Bills in March. Odunze and second-year pro Luther Burden III are now the top two wide receivers on the team’s depth chart.
The Bears will conclude their minicamp Thursday. The team will open training camp in late July at Halas Hall.
Chris Emma covers the Bears and the Chicago sports scene for 104.3 The Score.
