THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL
BEARSSSSSS
Bears’ Wednesday injury report: Latest on Rome Odunze, Luther Burden – USA Today Bears Wire
Wide receiver Rome Odunze, who’s missed the last two games, did not practice as he nurses his foot injury. The good news is rookie receiver Luther Burden III (ankle) returned to practice in limited fashion.
Odunze is still recovering from his injury
as two games remain in the regular season, but Bears head coach Ben Johnson has indicated it isn’t a season-ending issue.
Wide receiver Luther Burden was able to go through a limited practice Wednesday for the Bears, but now they have several other injuries including a few on defense.
Cairo Santos’ incredible Week 16 earns Player of the Week honors – Sports Illustrated Chicago Bears
The Bears’ placekicker was front and center in Chicago’s unbelievable win over the Packers last Saturday.
Bears’ dramatic win over Packers dwarfs TV audience for College Football Playoff – Sports Illustrated Chicago Bears
The Bears’ 22-16 win – punctuated by Caleb Williams’ perfect walk-off touchdown pass to DJ Moore – dominated the CFP’s competing game: James Madison vs. Oregon. That game, on TNT, drew only 4.4 million.
Lieser: Pro Football Focus gives Bears QB Caleb Williams rare plus-2.0 grade for touchdown pass to beat Packers – Chicago Sun Times
It’s the only pass of this NFL season to earn that grade and it gave the Bears a record-setting comeback.
Kevin Byard III Mic’d Up – ChicagoBears.com
The footage highlights Byard’s football IQ and passion for the game, showing how his experience and intensity help set the tone for the Bears defense in one of the NFL’s most memorable games of the season.
Picks For Poles PODCAST: Have Darnell Wright, Tyrique Stevenson, and Gervon Dexter earned contract extensions? – 247 Sports Chicago Bears
For this episode of the Picks For Poles Podcast, hosts Usayd Koshul and Andrew Freeman discuss whether or not the Wright, Stevenson, and Dexter deserve to earn contract extensions during the 2026 offseason and, three years later, how the Bears 2023 draft class has been.
Who needs the win more Sunday, the Bears or the 49ers? – ESPN Video
Marcus Spears and Jeff Saturday disagree about whether the Bears or 49ers need a win on Sunday more.
Bears memorabilia flying off the shelves at sports collectible shops ahead of playoffs – Chicago Sun Times
Since the team’s victory against the Green Bay Packers, player jerseys and other Bears merchandise have been the top sellers for Chicago retailers.
Biggs’ Bears Q&A: Would Ben Johnson rest players for the playoffs? Will Nahshon Wright be re-signed? – Chicago Tribune
Brad Biggs answers your Chicago Bears questions weekly.
Inside analysis from Hoge & Jahns.
POLISH SAUSAGE
Raiders place Pro Bowl TE Brock Bowers (knee) on injured reserve – NFL.com
The Raiders are placing the Pro Bowl tight end on injured reserve, ending his season, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per sources informed of the situation.
KNOW THINE ENEMY
Brock Purdy named the NFC offensive player of the week – NBC Sports
Purdy set a career high with five touchdown passes in the 49ers’ 48-27 win over the Colts. Purdy was 25-of-34 for 295 yards overall in a win that kept the 49ers alive in the race for both the NFC West and the first overall seed in the conference.
George Kittle has a ‘chance’ to play through mid-to-low ankle sprain – Niners Nation
Ricky Pearsall and Renardo Green will practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON
Starman’s Benchmarking Da Bears: Week 16’s Statistical Juxtaposition
The Bears offense was a thrill ride in the rematch with the Packers, complete with lows and highs. @TJStarman is Benchmarking Da Bears here.
Zimmerman’s What a week: Packers, Playoffs, and a botched stadium message
The latest Bears Banter has dropped after a crazy week with a Packers win, a playoff berth, and Kevin Warren’s mismanagement.
Berckes: NFL “STEP Differential” Week 16 2025
Tracking every NFL team’s health with the STEP [Sack + Turnover + Explosive Play] Differential
Salo: Cairo Santos is the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
Cairo Santos was nails in the Bears win over the Packers, in true windy city weather.
Infante’s 2026 Bears mock offseason: Free agency and draft predictions
Jacob Infante previews what the Bears’ offseason could look like as a playoff team on a tight budget.
THE RULES
Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines – SBNation.com – We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following are not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender-based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.
2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, Bear & Balanced from Jeff Berckes and Lester A. Wiltfong Jr., Bears Over Beers featuring Ryan Droste and Bryan Orenchuk, Making Monsters with Taylor Doll, Bear Bones from Dr. Mason West, The Mac & Read Show from Evan McLean and Ross Read, and an occasional T Formation Conversation from Lester; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert is another fun one.
NOTE: Denmaster Ken is experimenting with AI data collection to come up with some more eclectic sourcing, but the article is not written by AI.
Click on our names to follow our Windy City Gridiron and 2nd City Gridiron teams on Twitter: Gary Baugher Jr.; Jeff Berckes; Dr. Patti Curl; Sarah DeNicolo; Ryan Droste; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Dan Durkin; Taylor Doll; Donald Gooch; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Evan McLean; Dr. Ken Mitchell; Danny Meehan; Bryan Orenchuk; Ross Read: Jack R Salo; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; Khari Thompson; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; T.J. Starman; Khari Thompson; Dr. Mason West; Bill Zimmerman; 2nd City Gridiron; Like WCG on Facebook; Like 2nd City Gridiron on Facebook.
