Rookie Rome Odunze had never hurt his knee before, but he knew something was wrong when he heard a pop in the fourth quarter Sunday. The Bears’ No. 9 overall pick was blocking on a pass to Velus Jones and his left leg was rolled on from behind.
Odunze lasted one more play, took himself out and went to the training staff.
“Anything that pertains to the knee,” he said Wednesday, “you want to make sure you have a complete diagnosis.”
He was relieved when MRIs confirmed he had a Grade 1 MCL sprain in his left knee. Head coach Matt Eberflus called the injury “nothing serious.”
It was enough, however, to keep Odunze out of practice Wednesday. He had company — veteran Keenan Allen, who has battled a heel injury for two weeks that was the result of a shoe problem, sat out, too. Allen was clearly bothered by the injury Sunday.
“Hopefully the rest helps,” Eberflus said.
Trainers will decide whether Allen should return to practice Thursday, Eberflus said. The coach called Odunze day-to-day, but the Bears won’t rush him back.
The Bears started the season with perhaps the best receiving corps in franchise history — and it took only one game to put a significant dent in it. That presents one more challenge for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams after an unimpressive Week 1 showing.
The Bears suited up four receivers against the Titans. Three were injured.
DJ Moore hurt his side catching a pass on a crossing route on the Bears’ first drive of the third quarter Sunday. Titans. He returned to the game — but not until he’d spent 10 minutes in the blue injury tent.
“I’m totally fine,” Moore said Wednesday.
Moore was one of three receivers who practiced without issue Wednesday. He was joined by second-year player Tyler Scott, who was a healthy scratch Sunday, and returner DeAndre Carter, who played 13 offensive snaps.
“There’s going to be a difference [in practice], because Tyler is not Keenan,” Williams said. “But Tyler is Tyler. Keenan’s Keenan. So just adjusting to that. …
“They’re all different in their own aspects, but that’s why we have so many reps and things like that throughout training camp. We’re going to get a bunch of reps with a bunch of different guys.”
It “should be no challenge” for Williams, Moore said. That’s one of the many benefits to giving Williams all the starter’s snaps during training camp.
“We all rotated with him,” he said. “Everybody in our receiver group did through training camp, so I think he got a feel for everybody and whoever’s gonna be out there with him.”
The Bears’ other receiving options don’t play the position. Running back D’Andre Swift and tight end Gerald Everett were on the field for 20 and 21 passing downs Sunday, respectively. Jones was moved to running back from receiver for a reason, but he caught one pass Sunday.
That leaves Scott, who had 17 catches for 168 yards last year, as the player who stands to gain the most playing time against the Texans. The second-year player is not short on motivation, either, after being left off the active roster for the first time in his NFL career Sunday.
“Obviously they didn’t think that — of the 47 guys that were up, I was not one of them that could be someone out there that could help them win,” he said. “This week I have to put it on display and show them why.”
Eberflus wants to see it.
He might have no other choice.
“You’re looking for an opportunity, a crack in the door,” Eberflus said. “Because it’s a strong receiving group that we feel that we have this year — and again, we still have to prove it. But I would say that opportunity — when that door opens and you take your opportunity and run with it.”
Williams said he’d like to fix about six throws and at least one rushed dropback.
Stevenson had a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown Sunday.