Bears' Rome Odunze and Kyler Gordon
appear poised to return against Packers
[January 08, 2026]
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears could be getting some
reinforcements for their playoff game against the Green Bay Packers,
with receiver Rome Odunze and cornerback Kyler Gordon likely
returning from injuries.
Odunze said Wednesday that he expects to play after missing the
final five regular-season games because of a foot problem, and the
Bears are planning to have Gordon available for the first time since
Week 13. He has been sidelined because of a groin issue.
Both players were limited on Wednesday, when the team held its first
practice of the week after conducting a walkthrough the previous
day.
Chicago (11-6) hosts Green Bay (9-7-1) in a wild-card game on
Saturday night after winning the NFC North for the first time since
2018.
“I’m planning on playing," Odunze said. “But I’ve been planning on
playing for weeks.”
Odunze's foot has been bothering him since October. The Bears tried
to manage it by having him sit out at least one practice per week
before shutting him down following the victory at Philadelphia on
Nov. 28. He acknowledged his stamina isn't all the way back but
insisted he can help against Green Bay.
“I can definitely provide an asset to this offense," he said. “It’s
tough being out for five weeks and having to be on the sideline and
have all that happen and go through that, the ups and downs of the
season and not being able to contribute. As long as I have the
option to be out there and contribute, I’m going to give it my all.
I believe I can make a difference.”
The No. 9 draft pick last year, Odunze was leading the team in
receptions (44), yards receiving (661) and touchdown catches (six)
at the time he was shut down. He is now fourth in catches, third in
yards and tied for the lead in TD receptions.
“You don’t want to be giving him way too much, and yet he’s a guy
that can help us,” offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said. "We’ll
be evaluating that over the next three days of practice as we
finalize this plan and put that stuff together. Any time that he can
be a part of it, you certainly want to be able to use him and
maximize the time that he’s out in the field and get him the ball.
Really, it’s the same with all of our players. We always have plays
for each guy specifically. We’re excited to have him back.”
[to top of second column] |
Gordon, meanwhile, has been limited to three games
because of hamstring and groin injuries after signing a three-year,
$40 million extension in April. A second-round draft pick in 2022,
he has five career interceptions.
“It gives us another playmaker,” defensive
coordinator Dennis Allen said. “Obviously, it’s been unfortunate we
haven’t had him much this season, but he was a guy that, coming into
the season, we were really excited about, and I feel like he can
help us make some plays and help us win.”
Gordon missed the first four games because of the hamstring and five
more because of the groin before returning for Chicago’s win at
Philadelphia in Week 13. He hasn't played since then. And with
safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson exiting the Detroit game because a
concussion, the team could use Gordon.
“I think our plan is to have him be a part of (the game plan),”
Allen said before practice. “Today will really be the first day that
we get out there and go practice, get a chance to see him move
around. But I’m excited about getting him back in the fold and
seeing what he can do.”
Whether cornerback Tyrique Stevenson will get an opportunity to show
what he can do is another issue. His role has shrunk in recent
weeks, to the point that he didn't play at all against Detroit even
though he was he was healthy and available. A week earlier at San
Francisco, he was in on only 25% of the snaps.
That Stevenson didn't get onto the field against Detroit was an eye
opener with Jaylon Johnson and Nahshon Wright struggling to keep up
with the Lions' speedy receivers. Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowler, is
still limited because of a groin injury that required surgery. He
missed 10 games, including nine in a row before returning in Week
13.
“I’m not going to get back to my full self until I get a full
offseason to really attack my body head to toe and not being in
having to prepare for a game, where I can just really take all the
time I need to get my body back together,” Johnson said. “But right
now, I’m just as best as I’m going to get out of it.”
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
