Rome Odunze’s next practice week matters after opening-day return

Rome Odunze caught two passes for 52 yards against Carolina; Tyson Bagent was inactive, per NBC Sports.

Odunze entered the opener with a calf injury and three limited practices. In the Bears' Friday update, Ben Johnson described a decision that had to account for the long season as well as the immediate game.

That remains the right distinction when assessing what comes next. Being available for one Sunday does not tell us whether a player can resume a full practice workload. The next injury report will supply a better comparison with the limited sessions that preceded the opener.

Odunze's role makes that progression consequential. He and Caleb Williams arrived in the same 2024 draft class, and offensive coordinator Press Taylor emphasized their familiarity in last week's team report. Odunze finished 2025 with 44 catches, 661 yards and six touchdowns in 12 regular-season appearances.

For now, participation is the useful development. There is no need to convert it into a prediction about his next workload. Full or limited practices, any new designation and the eventual game-day decision will each answer a different part of that question.