Rome Odunze

During a radio show, Bears head coach Ben Johnson was asked about the quarterback situation this week and replied, “We’ll see how it plays out all week.” This is a murky situation heading into the end of the week as to who will be the signal caller on Sunday against the Jets. Johnson elaborated by saying, “We’ll have a discussion as a coaching staff and we’ll see where we need to go from here … But I said it last week, and I’ll say it again, there was a reason why Tyson [Bagent] ended training camp as our No. 2 quarterback.”

Keenum threw for 247 Yards, 2 passing touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown last week, reassuring Bears Nation that he can effectively run an NFL offense. However, Tyson Bagent won the QB2 job on the back of a larger play sample throughout training camp and preseason. To maintain a competitive advantage, Johnson is incentivized to wait as long as possible to reveal the name of his Week 4 starter. It is also a nice problem for the Bears offensive weapons Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and Colston Loveland to have in Caleb Williams‘ absence.

A sigh of relief for Bears fans and fantasy gamers, Tyson Bagent cleared the NFLs concussion protocol and was cleared to practice on Saturday for the Bears final practice session before Monday nights’ game against the Eagles. Bagent is a clear upgrade for the Bears offense.

Per Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT on X, Bagent is the first NFL player to be cleared without going through Steps 4 or 5. Assuming Bagent starts Monday night, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden and Colston Loveland can be started more confidently. If he is inactive on Monday, the 38-year-old Case Keenum will lead the Bears offense. Keenum would be a significant downgrade for the offense.

It would appear the Bears have dodged a bullet with the Caleb Williams injury, especially given how severe it looked in real time. Tom Pelissero is even reporting the team won’t even rule him out from playing this upcoming Sunday, although this is almost certainly just posturing given that head coach Ben Johnson has publicly said the injury would be a “week to week” situation.

In Williams’ absence, Tyson Bagent will step in at QB1. Bagent held his own in relief duty on Sunday, completing 5-of-9 passes for 54 yards. That included a 21-yard strike to Rome Odunze, followed by an 8 yard pickup to Luther Burden that had Chicago on the doorstep, before a game-ending sack sealed the loss. Assuming Williams is ruled out, Case Keenum will serve as Bears’ QB2 when they face the Eagles on Sunday.

Chicago Tribune’s Sean Hammond reported that Rome Odunze left practice due to an apparent injury to his right leg, not related to the left foot injury he sustained last season. According to Hammond, Odunze “wan’t overly concerned” and even tried to continue practicing, but Bears trainers removed him from the field for precautionary measures.  Shortly after, The Athletic’s Dan Wiederer reported that Odunze “should be all good after leaving today’s practice.”

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that while D’Andre Swift left practice with “serious discomfort,” he was later revealed to be experiencing a cramp. The NFL season cannot start soon enough.

Coaching staff confirmation locks in Luther Burden III for Week 1. This is an elite prospect who posted an 18.7 Breakout Age (94th percentile) and commands a 2.79 Yards Per Route Run (No. 3) profile.

Green light to draft this explosive weapon in the early middle rounds before Ben Johnson’s record-hunting offense fully unleashes his ceiling.