The Chicago Bears are officially playoff-bound. With their Week 16 win over the rival Packers and the Lions falling to Pittsburgh, the Bears have clinched a postseason berth and now sit atop the NFC North.
The path to a division crown is right in front of them - win in Week 17, and it’s theirs. And with that, the priorities start to shift.
With two games left in the regular season, the Bears have a real opportunity to manage their roster with January football in mind. That means getting key players healthy - and no name looms larger in that conversation than wide receiver Rome Odunze.
Odunze has now missed three straight games with a foot injury that had been bothering him for weeks. What initially sounded like a short-term absence has turned into a longer recovery, and while the Bears haven’t put a timeline on his return, the writing on the wall suggests they’re playing the long game.
It’s since come out that Odunze had been gutting it out through a stress fracture in his foot - which helps explain the dip in his production after a hot start to the season. He was clearly battling something, and now that the Bears are playoff-locked, the focus has shifted to getting him right for the games that matter most.
If that means Odunze doesn’t play another snap in the regular season, so be it.
Head coach Ben Johnson was asked about Odunze’s status heading into Week 17 against the 49ers. His answer? Classic coach-speak - vague, calm, and just enough to keep the speculation going.
“Rehabbing,” Johnson said when asked what Odunze has been doing lately. When pressed for more - is he running? Is he on the bike? - Johnson smirked and kept it close to the vest.
“We’ve been working through his rehab process,” he added. “He’s right on track, he’s going to be in a good spot.”
When asked to clarify what “a good spot” means, Johnson offered just enough to keep hope alive: “He’s going to be able to help us this year.”
That’s not a confirmation, but it’s not a shutdown either. It’s the kind of answer that says, “We’re not rushing him, but we expect him back when it counts.”
And that’s probably the right call. With the playoffs already secured and the division still within reach, there’s no need to push Odunze back into action before he’s fully healthy. Even if Week 17 carries weight, the Bears have to think bigger picture - and Week 18 against the Lions could end up being a rest day for several starters anyway.
Odunze has been the Bears’ No. 1 receiver this season, and his presence in the postseason could be a difference-maker. He’s a big-play threat, a trusted target, and a tone-setter for the offense. But he’s only that guy if he’s healthy - and right now, the Bears are playing it smart by keeping their cards close and their star wideout on the mend.
Bottom line: don’t expect to see Rome Odunze until the playoffs. And if that’s what it takes to have him at full strength when the lights are brightest, the Bears - and their fans - will take it.