The Bears’ final Week 1 injury report doesn’t just raise a few eyebrows. It leaves Chicago with four real lineup questions heading into the matchup with the Panthers.
Tyson Bagent, Rome Odunze, Ozzy Trapilo and Xavier Woods all landed on the report as questionable, and each one carries a different kind of uncertainty. Odunze is the headliner. He was limited all week with a calf issue, and while that at least shows he’s been out there practicing, Ben Johnson’s comments suggested the Bears may take the cautious route because it is a "long season."
If Odunze sits, Chicago will have to reshuffle the receiver group on the fly. Luther Burden III and Kalif Raymond look like the likeliest starters, while rookie options like Zavion Thomas and Jahdae Walker could factor into the WR3 mix.
Woods might be the most consequential of the rest. He was added to the team only about a month ago after coming in to replace Coby Bryant, who is dealing with a four to six month injury, and he’s expected to start based on the team’s most recent depth chart. If he can’t go, the Bears could have to make a move in the secondary, possibly sliding Cam Lewis to safety and opening the door for another rookie, Malik Muhammad, to see more snaps and maybe even start in the nickel.
Bagent’s status is less dramatic, but still unresolved. He could wind up as the emergency QB3, with Case Keenum stepping in as the backup for the game.
Trapilo looks like the longest shot of the bunch. He was limited all week with a knee injury, but it would be a surprise to see him active. The Bears are expected to be careful with him, and Braxton Jones is set to start with Theo Benedet also expected to get playing time.
The final injury table also included Grady Jarrett and Joe Thuney, both listed with NIR (Rest). Jarrett was a DNP on Thursday before returning to full participation Friday, while Thuney followed the same pattern.
For now, the Bears are left waiting like everyone else. The real answers won’t come until the inactive report drops 90 minutes before kickoff. Until then, it’s a stress-filled weekend for Chicago fans.
In Other News...
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Bears Secondary Crisis Just Put Malik Muhammad On The Spot
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Malik Muhammad is the name suddenly worth tracking. The rookie cornerback has flashed enough in preseason to earn some attention, and hes now listed as the teams second nickelback, which puts him in line for a bigger role if the Bears need help right away. For a defense trying to hold things together in the back end, Muhammad may not just be a developmental piece anymore. [Read more 🡒]