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When Will the Bears Get Odunze and Burden Back?
Dec 28, 2025, 4:38 PM
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When Will the Bears Get Odunze and Burden Back
By Dustin Riese
The fact that the Chicago Bears not only clinched a playoff spot this past weekend, but are in first place this late in the season is an impressive feat in itself. To do that while dealing with all the injuries they have had deal with makes it that much more impressive Ben Johnson has clearly been worth the price.
Ever since his first day on the job at Halas Hall, Johnson has brought a mindset the Bears haven't seen in forever, laying the groundwork for what he wants this team to become. Sure, there were plenty of bumps along the way, which were to be expected, but this is a team that has gone 11-2 in its last 13 games, with its only losses coming to both Green Bay and Baltimore on the road. Chicago is also unbeaten at home since dropping its season opener to the Vikings, and it is quickly becoming a team no one wants to play come the playoffs.
Getting home-field advantage, or at least the No. 2 seed, could be crucial for the Bears, as it would guarantee them one home playoff game and potentially two or more, depending on the seed. Should that happen, you have to like the Bears' chances against anyone, as the weather at Soldier Field in January is about as unforgiving as anyone could imagine.
The only way for the Bears to have a shot at the No. 2 seed would be to win out and get some help, but one win would at the very least guarantee them the No. 2 seed as long as Chicago doesn't lose both games. With a trip to San Francisco on the docket this week, followed by Detroit next week, things won't be easy, but the Lions may be eliminated by week 18 and thus have nothing to play for.
Getting back to where this team currently sits, this team has continued to deal with injuries, and for the most part, they have been able to overcome them. However, there are two current injuries that the Bears are dealing with that they not only felt last week, but they will need them to get healthy if they want any chance at a deep playoff run.
We are talking about wide receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, who missed the game against the Packers on Saturday and remain questionable for Sunday. Burden seems more likely to play than Odunze, but he may not be at 100%, and that is something the Bears need for Caleb Williams to be at his best.
Credit Williams for being able to pick apart the Packers' secondary in the fourth quarter on Sunday as he used a steady diet of DJ Moore and Coleston Loveland to get the job done. As good as those guys are, the Bears need more options in the passing game, which is why losing Odunze and Burden has hurt this team.
Odunze was the team's leading receiver for a large chunk of the season, but he has fallen off during the second half as he was dealing with his own share of injuries. Eventually, Odunze suffered a stress fracture in his foot, which is why he has been out, as there isn't a set date as to when he could return.
Given his connection and chemistry with Williams, you would love to see Odunze back as soon as possible, but with a week-to-week injury, you have to take things slow, as you never know how things will heal. Burden, on the other hand, could be back this week, and even if he isn't quite at 100%, he will be a massive lift for this offense.
After being used sparingly early on this season, Burden has seen his role in the offense increase from week to week to the point where he took over the wide receiver three role from Olamide Zaccheus. Since then, the Bears have done their best to get the ball in his hands, as he is a big-play waiting to happen, capable of breaking one every time he touches the ball.
You saw that a lot against the Packers in their first meeting before he got hurt, and in the games since, he has reaggravated his injury, which set up a missed game on Saturday. They certainly missed him in the passing game, as he brings an added element to this offense that no one else does.
According to reports, both players are expected back this season, with Burden fully expected to be ready for the postseason. Odunze is a bit trickier, and although many do expect him back for the postseason, getting the top spot could go a long way, as that would give Odunze another week to rest and recover.
As long as the Bears can continue to do what they have been doing, they should at least get through their next two games without either man, but it will be after that when the problem lies. Chicago needs their weapons to make a run this postseason, and they do appear ready to return sooner rather than later.
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