Rome Odunze suffers sprained MCL in NFL debut

The Chicago Bears could be without Rome Odunze for the next few weeks.

The Chicago Bears could be without former Washington Huskies star and their No. 9 overall draft pick, Rome Odunze, for the next few weeks. On Monday, Bears coach Matt Eberflus announced that the 2023 All-American would have to undergo an MRI for a potential knee injury following the team’s 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans.

“The only real concern we have is Rome’s knee,” Eberflus said. “We’ll have to see where that is, and he’s getting an MRI today.”

It didn’t take long for the team to get the results, which showed that Odunze had suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain. It appears he sustained the injury while engaged in a run block in the fourth quarter when Bears receiver Velus Jones Jr. rolled up on his right leg.

Reports from media members after the game stated that Odunze was walking around in the locker room and didn’t appear injured but could have been experiencing more pain when he returned to the Bears facility on Monday.

His return to the field will be based on his pain tolerance and movement ability, and Odunze might not miss much, if any, time. It appears he got off way easier than his former Husky teammate, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who suffered a PCL sprain and was placed on short-term injured reserve on Monday.