Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee late in the season opener Sunday against the Titans, a source said.
Because it’s a Grade 1 (mild) sprain, he is considered week-to-week, and the Bears will hold off for at least a couple of days before deciding his status for their game Sunday at the Texans.
Odunze played 77% of the Bears’ offensive snaps in their 24-17 comeback victory, had one catch for 11 yards and didn’t show any sign of being hurt. He gave no indication of an injury issue while talking with reporters afterward.
Odunze appeared to get hurt while blocking on a screen pass to Velus Jones late in the fourth quarter. He got hit in the back of his left knee by Titans linebacker Harold Landry III as Landry made the tackle. He stayed in for one more play before leaving to be examined on the sideline and didn’t return.
Odunze figured to be a major weapon for the Bears after they drafted him with the No. 9 overall pick in the spring. He led the NCAA in receiving yards last season at Washington.
Veteran wide receivers Keenan Allen and DJ Moore also got hurt during the game but played through it. Both appeared to have leg injuries, though the Bears never reported anything and coach Matt Eberflus downplayed those issues Monday.
Still, the injuries led to return man DeAndre Carter playing 23% of the snaps on offense. The Bears had made second-year receiver Tyler Scott a healthy scratch for the game.
Amid all that, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams completed only 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards in his regular-season debut. The competition ramps up significantly with a visit to the Texans for ‘‘Sunday Night Football.’’
The Bears kept only five wide receivers on their 53-man roster, not counting Jones, whom they moved to running back last month. They also have Collin Johnson and Samori Toure on their practice squad.
In a rookie season that figures to be a roller coaster, Williams hopes he hit his nadir in his first NFL game.
“I need to be better,” he said.
He doesn’t necessarily have to dominate yet, but the specialness the Bears see in him has to shine through at least a few times Sunday after he showed barely a flicker of it in his debut.