LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) 鈥� Rome Odunze was hampered by a foot injury for much of his second season with the Chicago Bears.
That is part of what he is describing as his new normal.
That’s OK, too, because the wide receiver doesn’t think it’s going to get in his way.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not from a standpoint that I鈥檓 like always in pain, but the way my foot broke, there鈥檚 calluses in there that creates a different type of foot structure with those bones 鈥� different things that kind of shifts things around,” Odunze said Wednesday on his 24th birthday.
鈥淪o my new normal was kind of what I am going into. And I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 anything that鈥檚 going to prohibit me or keep me from making plays.鈥�
Odunze’s health took on added importance for the Bears after they traded veteran receiver to Buffalo in March. If Odunze can return to the form he showed at the beginning of last season, he could go a long way to helping replace the production that the team lost in the Moore deal.
鈥淔or me, I just want to be the best receiver possible for this team,鈥� Odunze said after practice on another day of organized team activities at Halas Hall. 鈥淚 feel like I provide many assets to do that. And I鈥檓 comfortable with a lot of the target share, as well as the other guys getting involved so we can be the best offense possible.鈥�
Chicago selected Odunze with the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft after taking quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall. After starring at Washington in college, Odunze had 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns during a solid rookie season with the Bears.
Odunze was Williams’ top option at the beginning of last season, catching 20 balls for 296 yards and five TDs in the first four games. But his foot in October, and the discomfort eventually put him on the sideline.
鈥淚t was tough,鈥� he said. 鈥淥bviously, I was gearing up for a great season. I felt like I was on track to have that. And injuries are part of the game. Unfortunately, I feel like it affected me more than injuries have in the past.鈥�
Odunze had two catches for 8 yards in a 24-15 win at Philadelphia on Nov. 28, and then missed the last five games of the regular season. He was poised to play against Cleveland on Dec. 14, but he aggravated his foot injury in warmups.
He returned for the playoffs and caught four balls for 88 yards in two postseason games, including a memorable 27-yard reception on a fourth-and-8 play against Green Bay.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a team player,” coach Ben Johnson said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 going to lay it out on the line every time he gets on the grass, and so I think his teammates appreciate that. His coaching staff certainly appreciates that, and, you know, hopefully we can get him 17-plus games this year and, you know, his career will really take off for that.鈥�
Odunze said he is continuing with rehab exercises on both feet in an effort to stay on top of the issue. That’s in addition to the work he does on the rest of his game.
鈥淚鈥檓 trying to be excellent in every single category of wide receiver,鈥� he said. 鈥淩oute running, releases, catching the football. There鈥檚 areas of improvement in every single rep out there that it鈥檚 hard to pinpoint one thing. I want to do everything excellent.鈥�
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