Bears, Rome Odunze relieved after MRI shows no major damage for his knee injury

Updated Sep. 11, 2024 4:26 p.m. ET

Associated Press

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears and receiver Rome Odunze were breathing a little easier after an MRI showed no major damage to the knee he sprained late in Chicago's season-opening victory over the Tennessee Titans.

Odunze, the No. 9 overall pick, sprained an MCL blocking with about five minutes remaining in the game. He got rolled up as Velus Jones Jr. was tackled following a short reception.

Odunze got up and felt a pop. He stayed in for the next play and was seen hopping toward the sideline during D’Andre Swift’s 20-yard run. He had an MRI on Monday.

“I've never had anything like that before,” Odunze said Wednesday. “Anything that pertains to the knee, you want to make sure you have a complete diagnosis of and it's in the right spot. The news that I got was definitely a blessing.”

Odunze was limited to stretching and conditioning on Wednesday, with coach Matt Eberflus saying he is day to day. Chicago visits the Houston Texans on Sunday night.

“When you have somebody fall on your leg like that and you have that type of deal, it’s always fortunate that it’s not that serious,” Eberflus said. "Very lucky that way. Very fortunate. We were blessed that way.”

Keenan Allen's lingering heel issue might be a concern after the six-time Pro Bowl receiver spent time in the medical tent on Sunday and was held out of practice on Wednesday. It's been bothering him for a few weeks.

“Hopefully the rest helps,” Eberflus said. “And again, I can’t say it definitively right now, but I know that right now they’re telling me, ‘Hey, he’s going to rest this day, and we’re going to see where he is going to feel tomorrow to be able to do some practicing.’”

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