No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams might be without two important wide receivers when the Chicago Bears play the Houston Texans on Sunday night.
Rome Odunze, another first-round pick, and six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen are both game-time decisions, according to coach Matt Eberflus. Both players are listed as questionable.
Odunze, who has a sprained knee, practiced on a limited basis on Friday after missing the previous two days. Allen, dealing with a heel issue, did not practice at all this week.
Odunze, the No. 9 pick, and the Bears were relieved to find no major damage after an MRI following an injury in the season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans. He hurt his MCL while blocking with about five minutes left in the game and felt a pop as he was tackled. He managed to limp off the field as the next play continued.
“Today was kind of my first initial test (to) really see, to answer that question and I think tomorrow will be a good measure of recovery and how my knee feels in that moment, so that’ll be the telling sign,” he said. “But I want to be out there on that field any way possible. So I’m gonna try and make that happen.”
Allen’s heel has been causing him trouble for a few weeks.
“It’s been progressing, then it took a step back and we just want to give him some rest,” Eberflus said. “That’s really what the idea was this week. Just to rest. Let it heal and feel good so he’s able to move and cut and do the things he does.”
Williams and the revamped offense had a rough start to the season. The former Heisman Trophy winner from Southern California completed 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards. The offense managed only 148 yards and no touchdowns, but the Bears still won 24-17 after trailing 17-0.
