Caleb Williams’ uneven NFL debut highlighted that the No. 1 pick in the draft still has a lot of development ahead of him. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears are now worried about another high-profile rookie following their season-opening win over Tennessee.
Receiver Rome Odunze had an MRI on Monday due to a knee injury he sustained during the game against the Titans.
Coach Matt Eberflus mentioned that Odunze might have been injured while blocking on Sunday. He did not provide details about how serious the injury is or how concerned the team should be.
“I don’t have enough information yet,” Eberflus said. “We’ll see on Wednesday.”
Odunze, the No. 9 overall pick, had one catch for 11 yards on a field-goal drive late in the first half against the Titans. Williams tried to pass to DJ Moore in a crowded area, and the ball was deflected. Odunze caught it but fumbled before Chicago recovered at the Tennessee 10-yard line.
Odunze was targeted four times during the game and participated in 77% of the offensive plays. He was seen hopping to the sideline during D’Andre Swift’s 20-yard run with 4:22 left in the game.
Odunze was expected to be part of a strong trio in Chicago after leading the nation with a school-record 1,640 yards for Washington last season.
The Bears also made a big trade for a receiver for the second year in a row, bringing in six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers after acquiring DJ Moore from Carolina in 2023.
Despite the strong support around him, Williams’ debut was not smooth. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from Southern California overthrew several receivers and ended up completing 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards and taking two sacks.
Eberflus noted that Williams’ footwork was slightly off but believed the quarterback was reading the defenses well and making the right decisions.
“As the chemistry builds throughout the course of the season here as we stack these games up, it’s gonna get better,” Eberflus said. “He’s got a very accurate arm. His timing is good. And the chemistry with the receivers is gonna improve every week.”
The offense only gained 148 yards and did not score a touchdown. However, the Bears managed to win despite being down 17-0, thanks to their special teams and defense. Tyrique Stevenson returned an interception 43 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
