Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze started out last season looking like he may break the franchise's single-season receiving records. After four weeks, he had 296 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He would only find the endzone one more time in 2025.
The main reason his production decline was from a foot injury he suffered in October. Ultimately, he missed the last five games of the season with that injury but was able to return to the lineup for both of Chicago’s playoff games.
Despite his postseason action, Bears fans became concerned when Odunze discussed his “new normal” during minicamp. However, when discussing his injury during training camp, Odunze reassured Chicago fans that his foot is fine and that it is nothing to worry about.
“I really didn’t articulate that well, honestly. That’s really not what I meant,” Odunze said. “I had an injury. That’s it. That’s football. My foot feels great. My foot feels amazing. Through our training staff here, the training staff I work with in the offseason and all the work I put in to get it right, honestly it’s not even something I think about anymore. Which I think is the best feeling you can have after an injury. So I know ‘new normal’ has a bunch of connotations of chronic and severe and like it’s never going to be the same. It’s not like that at all. I’m completely fine.”
After trading receiver DJ Moore in the offseason, Chicago is betting on Odunze’s health and his “new normal” this upcoming season as he is projected to be the Bears’ top receiver. He will need to have a more productive season than last year as Odunze ultimately finished the 2025 season as No. 3 on the Bears in receiving yards.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Rome Odunze reassures Bears fans about foot injury
