Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears fans can breathe a sigh of relief because wide receiver Rome Odunze avoided a serious injury in the team's Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans.

"We're in a good spot, it's nothing serious," Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday, per Chris Emma of 670 The Score. While it remains to be seen whether he will take the field for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans, it doesn't appear as if the rookie will be sidelined for long with a day-to-day designation.

Wednesday's update comes after Eberflus appeared on Tuesday's episode of The Rich Eisen Show and said, "He has an MCL sprain, and it's a day-to-day deal. So we'll see where he is tomorrow, on Wednesday, and what's going on there. We'll reassess it as we go. It's day-to-day, I know he's a super tough guy."

The coach also said Odunze may play against Houston.

It could have been a costly opener for Chicago, as ESPN's Courtney Cronin noted Odunze wasn't the only receiver to suffer an injury.

DJ Moore and Keenan Allen also dealt with physical issues, although there isn't much concern when it comes to their statuses heading into Week 2. That means the entire trio of talented receivers that represented one reason for optimism in Chicago heading into the season could be available without missing any time.

The Bears will need them healthy because one of the primary goals for this season is No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams taking the first steps toward developing into the franchise quarterback the team has long been missing.

He didn't look the part in his first start at just 14-of-29 passing for 93 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions, but the NFC North team still emerged with a win thanks in large part to a defensive touchdown and a special teams touchdown.

The offense will have to be far more dialed in if the Bears are going to compete against C.J. Stroud and the high-flying Texans on the road. And having Odunze could be a major part of that, as he finished with 1,640 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in his final collegiate season at Washington.

If he cannot play, look for Chicago to rely on either DeAndre Carter or Tyler Scott as the No. 3 receiver.

Rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze may not even miss one game for the Chicago Bears after suffering an MCL sprain during the season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus revealed it is possible Odunze will play in Sunday's game against the Houston Texans during a Tuesday appearance on The Rich Eisen Show.

"He has an MCL sprain, and it's a day-to-day deal," he said. "So we'll see where he is tomorrow, on Wednesday, and what's going on there. We'll reassess it as we go. It's day-to-day, I know he's a super tough guy."

ESPN's Courtney Cronin noted Odunze likely suffered the injury while blocking on a screen pass. Titans linebacker Harold Landry III fell into the back of the receiver's knee when tackling Velus Jones Jr. in the fourth quarter.

Fellow wide receivers DJ Moore and Keenan Allen also suffered injuries in the win, although Cronin pointed out Eberflus was not concerned with their statuses for the game against the Texans.

The firepower at wide receiver is one reason expectations were so high for the Bears entering the season. Moore and Allen are proven playmakers at the NFL level, and Odunze was the No. 9 overall pick after he posted 1,640 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in his final collegiate season at Washington.

It was quite the situation for No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams to walk into as a rookie, although he struggled in his first game and completed 14 of his 29 passes for 93 yards. Chicago still won thanks to a defensive touchdown and a special teams touchdown, but that is not a formula that will likely lead to many victories this season.

Sunday's road game against C.J. Stroud and the Texans figured to be more difficult than the one against Will Levis' Titans even if Odunze was 100 percent.

If he is sidelined, Chicago could turn toward DeAndre Carter or Tyler Scott as the No. 3 wide receiver. It also has Collin Johnson and Samori Toure on the practice squad if necessary.

Even if Odunze doesn't play, it seems like he avoided a significant injury if there is still a chance at this point of the week. That is welcome news for the Bears, who will need him to develop into a reliable No. 2 or 3 option as the season progresses and they chase a playoff spot.

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze is considered "week-to-week" with an MCL sprain that he suffered during the team's 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Odunze sustained the injury while blocking during a run play in the fourth quarter, as a Titans defender landed on his leg. He left the game and did not return.

The 22-year-old was targeted four times in his NFL debut, hauling in one reception for 11 yards.

The Bears' offense as a whole wasn't able to stay consistent against Tennessee, mustering just 148 total yards. However, they still secured the 17-point comeback win due to several exceptional plays on defense and special teams.

BEARS PICK-6 FOR THE LEAD!

📺: #TENvsCHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/cbCpZsZh1b

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024

Odunze wasn't the only Bears rookie with a relatively quiet debut, as Caleb Williams finished 14-of-29 for 93 yards without recording a touchdown or an interception.

Still, Odunze entered the regular season with high expectations after Chicago selected him with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 draft. The former Washington standout got off to a strong start in preseason, hauling in a 45-yard catch against the Cincinnati Bengals on Aug. 17.

Caleb finds Rome on the run 🔥

📺: #CINvsCHI on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/pUS2TVwuCN

— NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2024

He also earned praise from his veteran teammates throughout training camp, including six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen.

"He's a little bit better than me when I came in," Allen said, per ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "He's faster. He comes out of his breaks better than I did when I was that young. He looks like more polished than I was as a receiver."

With Odunze reportedly expected to miss some time, Tyler Scott and DeAndre Carter could earn larger roles alongside Allen and DJ Moore in Chicago's starting lineup.

The Bears will attempt to survive without the rookie and secure a 2-0 start in their Week 2 matchup with the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football.

The Chicago Bears started the 2024 season in a positive direction with Sunday's 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans, but things are a bit more murky heading into Week 2.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Monday that rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze is set to undergo an MRI on his knee ahead of Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.

Odunze appeared to suffer the injury while blocking on a run play when a Titans defender landed on the back of his leg. He left the game with 4:22 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Odunze was targeted four times against Tennessee and reeled in one pass off a deflection for an 11-yard gain before fumbling the ball, though it was recovered by Chicago left guard Teven Jenkins. The Bears offense struggled as a whole, as 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams had a tough time getting going and finished with just 93 yards on 14-of-29 passing.

The Bears selected Odunze with the No. 9 pick in this year's draft, hoping to pair him with Williams as their QB-WR duo of the future. The Washington product will have the chance to develop in a talented receivers room that includes rising star DJ Moore and six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen.

Despite the win, Sunday's game was a clear indication that Chicago's offense needs more time to jell as Williams gets acclimated to the NFL, so the team is certainly hoping that Odunze won't have to miss much time.

If Odunze is forced to sit out, players like Velus Jones Jr., DeAndre Carter and Tyler Scott will be in for more playing time when the Bears face the Texans.

Caleb Williams' NFL debut is in the rearview mirror and the 2024 No. 1 pick knows he can do better.

His Chicago Bears won 24-17 over the Tennessee Titans but his individual statistics were not a huge reason why. Following the game, he told reporters that he was happy with the result but focused on individually improving.

"Obviously, it's great to get this first win," Williams said, per Courtney Cronin of ESPN. "We're all excited. Went to the locker room, celebrated. I sat down, enjoyed the moment, just watching all the guys celebrate understanding that I need to be better, I will be better."

He acknowledged that he missed some passes and stressed that the offense would focus on being more efficient going forward.

Williams went 14-of-29 for 93 passing yards while taking two sacks for 29 yards. He did rush for 15 yards but he was not the driver of the victory. That instead was the defense and special teams, which added two touchdowns, and kicker Cairo Santos, who knocked through three field goals.

After the game, Williams made it known that he doesn't focus on individual numbers.

"I don't care about stats," Williams said, per NFL.com's Eric Edholm.

This weak debut would likely be more of a talking point if the Bears had lost but it's still a bit concerning due to his significant hype and a strong preseason. Still, he became the first quarterback since David Carr to win his debut after being selected with the No. 1 pick.

He will look to build on the performance and get used to NFL speed in Week 2 when Chicago takes on the Houston Texans.

Chicago Fire rookie forward Angel Reese was liking what she saw from Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams during his team's 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

"Them boyz!" she wrote on her Instagram Stories over top of a picture of Williams. "Good shiii rook!"

Angel Reese shows her fellow Chicago rookie Caleb Williams some love ❤️

(via @Reese10Angel /IG) pic.twitter.com/4FbaYRMCo7

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 8, 2024

It wasn't exactly a banner debut from Williams, who finished 14-of-29 for 93 yards with two sacks taken and 15 rushing yards. The Bears offense didn't manage a single touchdown on the game, though Williams did find D'Andre Swift for a successful pass on a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.

Instead, Jonathan Owens' recovery on a blocked punt and Tyrique Stevenson's pick-six were the only two touchdowns on the day for Chicago. Cairo Santos added three field goals in the win.

The Bears will take the result regardless of how the touchdowns were scored, and Williams will have plenty of time to work out some of the rookie kinks.

As for Reese, the double-double machine saw her excellent WNBA rookie season cut short this past week due to a wrist injury.

What a year. I never would have imagined the last bucket of my rookie season would be a 3 but maybe that was God saying give them a taste of what they will be seeing more of in Year 2 lol🥲Through it all, I have showed that I belong in this league even when no one else believed.… pic.twitter.com/re1X85mWR2

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) September 8, 2024

i love you guys & appreciate all the thoughts and prayers! 🥺 i know you guys would cut your wrist off to give it to me in a heart beat😭 but we not done yet! SKYTOWN LET’S GO! 🩵💛

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) September 8, 2024

The No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 draft finished her debut campaign averaging 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, with a WNBA record of 15 consecutive double-doubles earlier in the season. Her 26 overall double-doubles were the second most in a single season in league history.

Caleb Williams may be in his Rex Grossman era.

Grossman famously won plenty of games for the Chicago Bears even when he played poorly thanks to the team's special teams and defense, and that is exactly what Williams did in his first career start.

Chicago defeated the Tennessee Titans 24-17 on Sunday in Soldier Field despite facing a 17-3 halftime deficit. The No. 1 overall pick didn't play well at 14-of-29 passing for 92 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions, but the defense led the way for the victors.

CALEB WILLIAMS BECOMES FIRST #1 OVERALL QB TO WIN IN DEBUT SINCE 2002 🔥

NEW ERA IN CHICAGO 🐻 pic.twitter.com/QDfqwwz9EV

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 8, 2024

Tyrique Stevenson's pick-six in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winner after Jonathan Owens' touchdown on a blocked punt turned the momentum. Fittingly, it was Jaylon Johnson's interception of Will Levis that iced the game in the final two minutes.

WILL LEVIS THROWS A PICK SIX

BEARS HAVE SCORED 24 UNANSWERED POINTS. FIRST LEAD OF THE GAME 😲

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/v8O6ZVrL3y

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) September 8, 2024

Special Teams unit showing up huge for the Bears 🐻

Blocked punt return TD

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/RaFC4pD07m

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) September 8, 2024

Still, social media was focused on Williams' overall showing:

Who knew it'd be Caleb Williams joining the list of Bears QBs to notch a W without throwing for 100 yards.

Bears 24, Titans 17

The Bears are 1-0

— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) September 8, 2024

Caleb Williams said pic.twitter.com/MRFvlfLkPc

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) September 8, 2024

I better not see a single person hype up Caleb Williams if the Bears win this.

They had a blocked punt for a touchdown and an interception for a touchdown.

He has played terrible. QB wins are not a stat.

— Dominique Clare (@DomClare) September 8, 2024

Need 17 games before we can make a realistic assessment of Caleb Williams honestly. But you can see him getting more comfortable in this game. Using his legs and showing flashes of that athleticism. Offensive line is still an issue in Chicago.

— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) September 8, 2024

Caleb Williams spent his entire USC career preparing for this moment to be down 17 at halftime

— Danny Heifetz (@Danny_Heifetz) September 8, 2024

They gonna ban Caleb Williams from all the nail salons in Chicago for playing like this

— Ali *⃟+⃟ (@plxyboihurting) September 8, 2024

The Chicago Bears with Justin Fields Vs Caleb Williams pic.twitter.com/m0AEojaEFs

— NFL Memes (@NFLHateMemes) September 8, 2024

Keenan Allen dropping Caleb Williams' first career touchdown pass is a very Bears moment

— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) September 8, 2024

Thanks to a stellar defense and special teams, Caleb Williams and the #Bears start 1-0. https://t.co/t9hG6OIejf

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 8, 2024

While this was the first game for new Titans head coach Brian Callahan as he looks to help his team bounce back from two straight losing seasons, all eyes were on the Bears and Williams' regular-season debut.

He was the headliner of a drastic offensive overhaul this season that also saw the NFC North team trade Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers and add Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, D'Andre Swift and Gerald Everett to an offense that already featured DJ Moore and Cole Kmet.

Expectations were sky-high entering Sunday's opener for a franchise that hasn't won a playoff game since the 2010 campaign, but that optimism quickly faded during an abysmal start. First, Williams took a sack for a 19-yard loss to move out of field-goal range, and then Tennessee scored the first touchdown with a long Tony Pollard run.

As if that wasn't enough, Velus Jones Jr. fumbled the ensuing kickoff to set up a Titans field goal before Chigoziem Okonkwo came down with a 50-50 jump ball for a touchdown. Even Chicago's lone field goal ahead of a 17-3 halftime deficit didn't make the fans feel better, as it came after Allen dropped a touchdown.

Then it all changed thanks to the defense and special teams.

Owens scooping up the blocked punt and returning it for a touchdown finally gave the fans, some of whom were booing at halftime, something to cheer for. And then a strip-sack from Darrell Taylor and multiple long field goals from Cairo Santos made it a one-point game before Stevenson made the biggest play of the contest.

Williams will have to be much better next week on Sunday Night Football against C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans, but Bears fans are surely thrilled with the opening win.

Legendary Olympic gymnast Simone Biles was excited after her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, scored a touchdown on Sunday.

I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK https://t.co/SmqPk06QCN

— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) September 8, 2024

In the third quarter of the Bears' Week 1 matchup with the Tennessee Titans, linebacker Daniel Hardy blocked a punt by Ryan Stonehouse. Owens scooped up the ball and ran into the end zone to cut Chicago's deficit to 17-10 entering the fourth quarter.

Biles is coming off a dominant performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She accumulated four total medals which included three golds, bringing her overall total to 11. Biles earned gold in the women's vault and individual all-around events while also helping the United States secure a spot on top of the podium in the team competition.

Although Chicago's training camp started before Biles was set to perform, Owens was allowed to miss practices in order to make the trip to Paris and witness her become the most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history.

Simone Biles' husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, and her parents celebrating USA gym win gold ❤️ pic.twitter.com/PocellRPhL

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 30, 2024

"I was just excited that I was able to sit there and I was able to witness it and experience the energy, the culture and just watch everyone react to her," Owens said after watching her compete, via Eric Edholm of NFL.com.

The 29-year-old spent the 2023 season with the Green Bay Packers before he joined the Bears on a two-year contract worth $4.75 million in free agency. In 17 appearances with the Packers, Owens recorded 84 tackles and two passes defensed to go along with a forced fumble.

Chicago's defense and special teams continued to help Caleb Williams as the No. 1 overall pick made his first career regular-season start. Later in the fourth quarter, Tyrique Stevenson intercepted a pass from Will Levis and returned it 43 yards for a go-ahead touchdown.

.@dreamchaserTy10 JUST DID THAT 🫡

📺: #TENvsCHI on FOX pic.twitter.com/oW5IzEYZbR

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 8, 2024

The Bears are searching for a Week 1 win after starting the 2023 season with a record of 0-4.

There is no shortage of optimism for the new era of Chicago Bears football entering the 2024 season in large part because of the presence of No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, but one NFL executive raised some concern.

"I struggle with his play style because it's so off-schedule, and I don't think they are going to be very good up front," the executive told Mike Sando of The Athletic in a piece published Thursday. "If they can't run the ball and he can't operate on time and they have a lot of early down negatives, it becomes pure dropback on third down. But there are going to be some absolute moments of beauty off-schedule."

The offensive line is once again a concern for the Bears, just like it consistently was when Justin Fields was the quarterback. Fields was unable to become the long-term franchise quarterback in part because of the struggles around him, and the hope in Chicago is something similar doesn't play out with Williams.

Williams at least has more weapons, as the NFC North team is loaded with impact skill position players.

DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet, D'Andre Swift and Gerald Everett, among others, gives the rookie plenty of options when it comes to spreading the ball around, which raises the ceiling for a team looking to make a playoff push.

"Super talented quarterback," an executive said of the roster situation. "The time-to-throw will be interesting. I do expect guys to get open quickly with Keenan Allen's route running and what (Rome) Odunze brings. Everyone has been talking about their offense, but their defense could be better."

A formidable defense would be key for the Bears, especially early in the season. That would take some of the pressure off Williams and ideally put him in a position where he will not have to play off-schedule early in his career.

His first chance to live up to the hype will be Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

Caleb Williams understands it's an honor to be named one of the captains of the Chicago Bears as a rookie.

"I'm extremely grateful," the quarterback said Wednesday, per ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "I can't really think of how many rookies are captains, especially with a team so talented like this. With a lot of, I guess you can say vet guys.

"We're a pretty young team but we obviously have a good amount of vets on this team, so to be named a captain by my peers and colleagues, my teammates and my friends and brothers I'm extremely grateful, extremely happy and something I told them as soon as I got to be able to break it down or talk to them and things like that, so. You know, ready to go. Fired up. Extremely grateful and we're excited."

Chicago revealed its captains Monday, and Williams was joined by notable veterans such as DJ Moore, Jaylon Johnson and Tremaine Edmunds, among others:

Aye, Aye, Captains 🫡 pic.twitter.com/JHH94gg6Db

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 2, 2024

Being named a captain indicates that Williams has already won the respect of his teammates in the locker room. But it also highlights just how high expectations will be for the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft in his first season.

The Bears have struggled to find a franchise quarterback throughout their existence and remain the only NFL team to never have a signal-caller throw for 4,000 yards or 30 touchdowns in a single season.

That Williams is talented enough to become the first to do both with a supporting cast of playmakers that could be among the NFL's best only elevates those expectations.

He will be throwing to Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett and D'Andre Swift this season, while a defense that closed the 2023 campaign out well brought back many of its key pieces. Chicago is eyeing the playoffs, but it will need its quarterback and captain to deliver.

Williams' journey toward doing exactly that starts Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.