Rome Odunze
Rome Odunze
The Chicago Bears entered Thursday’s final padded practice before their long weekend hoping to get through one last physical test without adding to an already lengthy injury list. Instead, two essential offensive players left early.
Wide receiver Rome Odunze exited in the first hour with a trainer. Later, near the end of the session, running back D’Andre Swift departed appearing to be in “significant discomfort,” according to The Athletic’s Dan Wiederer.
There is encouraging news on one player. The other remains a question mark. Chicago heads toward its Sept. 13 opener against the Carolina Panthers, still nine days away.
Wiederer reported late Thursday that preliminary indications are Odunze “should be all good” after leaving practice. The Bears began their long weekend after the session and will return next week to begin game-plan preparation for Carolina.
Update: Preliminary indications are that Bears WR Rome Odunze should be all good after leaving today’s practice. Bears breaking for the weekend tonight.
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) September 3, 2026
That early report should lower the concern level around Odunze, even if it does not amount to a formal medical clearance.
Chicago Tribune’s Sean Hammond reported that Odunze tried to stay in practice before trainers took him inside. Odunze appeared to be dealing with a right-leg issue, which naturally raised alarms because a stress fracture in his right foot cost him five games last season.
But Bears coach Ben Johnson had given Odunze a glowing review only two days earlier.
“Mr. Consistency,” Johnson said. “I thought he looked completely healthy.”
Johnson said Odunze had shown no setbacks related to the foot injury and called him “a key cog” in Chicago’s offense. That role has become more significant after the Bears traded DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills in the offseason.
Odunze caught 44 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games last season. The Bears need him available alongside quarterback Caleb Williams, receiver Luther Burden and tight end Colston Loveland if the offense is going to reach the enormous expectations surrounding it in Year 2 under Johnson.
The early update on Odunze is promising. The situation with Swift is less clear.
D'Andre Swift, Las Vegas Raiders
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Swift was experiencing “a cramp,” according to sources. But Chicago has not announced an official diagnosis, and there has been no similar report indicating Swift is expected to be fine.
The extra time before the opener gives Swift a favorable window if cramps were indeed the issue. He’s a crucial player, especially considering Chicago’s injury struggles in the running back room.
Kyle Monangai remains week-to-week with a knee injury after hyperextending it in August. Roschon Johnson earned the coaching staff’s trust late in camp. Salvon Ahmed and Zavier Scott are available on the practice squad. But Swift is still the lead back and one of the foundational pieces of the offense.
The veteran rushed for a career-high 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns last season as the Bears finished third in the NFL in rushing. Earlier this week, Swift said he believed this had been one of the most complete camps of his career.
A cramping issue would be a minor interruption. Anything more serious would force Chicago to lean heavily on Johnson while Monangai continues his recovery. The Odunze and Swift concerns also come against the backdrop of a roster already dealing with notable absences.
Chicago Bears, Coby Bryant
Jul 31, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive back Coby Bryant (2) runs with the ball during Training Camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon is on the physically unable to perform list and must miss at least the first four games with a lingering calf injury. Safety Coby Bryant is on injured reserve after knee surgery, and his best-case return is expected to be in December. Defensive lineman Shemar Turner and linebacker Noah Sewell also begin the season on PUP, while tight end Hayden Large is on injured reserve.
That does not mean Chicago is entering a full-blown injury crisis. Defensive end Austin Booker returned to full practice Thursday, while cornerback Jaylon Johnson was a full participant after an elbow concern.
Still, the margin for error is shrinking in certain spots. The Bears have more than a week to get healthy, but they cannot afford to lose core offensive players as their Week 1 preparation approaches.
For now, Chicago appears to have avoided a serious setback with Odunze. The next update on Swift will determine whether Thursday was merely an uneasy end to the preseason phase–or a complication that follows the Bears into game week.