Bears' Odunze 'ready' for Panthers despite questionable tag

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  Courtney CroninSep 11, 2026, 05:46 PM ET

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  Courtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever and GameNight on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (calf) says he expects to play Sunday in the season opener at Carolina despite being listed as questionable on the final injury report.

"I'm feeling ready to go," Odunze told reporters Friday. "I doubt I'm questionable. I know there's a way everybody goes about things. I feel pretty good. Was out there today. I plan on playing."

Odunze strained his right calf in practice on Sept. 3, which forced him to leave the session early and miss practices on Monday and Tuesday. The receiver cited muscle fatigue from six-plus weeks of training camp as the source of his injury.

Odunze returned to practice on Thursday and was limited in back-to-back-days. He was also listed as limited on Wednesday's injury report estimation because the Bears did not hold a practice.

Coach Ben Johnson said the Bears are "hopeful" that the third-year receiver will be available against the Panthers.

"He's looked good from my perspective, but we've also got a long season coming up on us and we want to do what's right for him for the long term as well," Johnson said.

Odunze missed five games in 2025 due to a stress fracture in his foot, which limited him to 44 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns. After scoring a touchdown in each of the Bears' first four games, Odunze's production slowed as he played through the foot injury he sustained around the midway point of the season.

Odunze's foot healed without surgery, but the receiver raised eyebrows when he said that he would have to adjust to a "new normal" given the way his foot structure had altered. He clarified what he meant by a "new normal" during camp, stating that he isn't dealing with a chronic issue and that his foot felt "amazing" as he went through his third offseason.

"I feel great," Odunze said. "Body feels good. Obviously it's been a long camp. Excited for the real thing."