The Chicago Bears have released their final injury report ahead of their Week 17 clash with the San Francisco 49ers, and once again, they’ll be without rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze. This marks the fourth straight game Odunze will miss-he hasn’t seen the field since the Black Friday matchup against the Eagles.
That’s a tough blow, no doubt. Odunze was carving out a role in the offense before the injury, and his absence has forced the Bears to shuffle their receiving corps down the stretch.
But there’s a silver lining here: Luther Burden III is back in action. After missing last week’s win over the Packers with an ankle issue, the rookie wideout is cleared and ready to go.
Expect him to slot in alongside DJ Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus, giving Justin Fields a solid trio to work with. And don’t forget about Jahdae Walker-the undrafted rookie who made a name for himself last week with that clutch game-tying touchdown.
He’s earned another look, and with Odunze still sidelined, he should see more opportunities in the rotation.
Defensively, things are a little murkier. Cornerback Nick McCloud is out with an illness, and the secondary is suddenly thin in the slot.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson is questionable with a knee injury, and Nahshon Wright is also questionable as he deals with both a hamstring issue and illness.
That could mean more responsibility for Tyrique Stevenson, who might be asked to move around the formation depending on how things shake out pregame. With the 49ers’ offensive weapons, especially in the middle of the field, the Bears’ slot coverage could be tested early and often.
At linebacker, things were starting to stabilize for Chicago, but now T.J. Edwards is questionable with a glute injury.
That’s a setback, considering how important he’s been to the defense. If Edwards can’t go, the Bears still have depth with Tremaine Edmunds, D’Marco Jackson, and Noah Sewell, but Edwards brings a level of consistency and leadership that’s hard to replicate.
This could come down to a game-time decision, and if Edwards is anywhere close to 100%, expect him to push to be on the field.
Also listed as questionable are cornerback Josh Blackwell (illness) and offensive lineman Luke Newman (foot). While neither is a headline name, their availability could impact depth, especially in a game where physicality and attrition will likely play a major role.
The bottom line: Odunze’s absence hurts, but the Bears showed last week they have the offensive firepower to keep pace without him. With Burden back, Moore doing Moore things, and Walker stepping up, the passing game still has teeth.
The real concern heading into San Francisco is on the defensive side, where the Bears are walking a tightrope in the secondary and at linebacker. If a few of those questionable tags turn into inactive statuses, it could be a long day trying to contain the 49ers' high-octane offense.
But this Bears team has shown some resilience lately. With playoff hopes still flickering, they’ll need every bit of it on Sunday.