Caleb Williams’ shaky performance and Odunze’s injury make for difficult debuts for Bears rookies

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — While Caleb Williams’ shaky NFL debut served as a reminder that the No. 1 pick in the draft is still a work in progress, the Chicago Bears are worried about another high-profile rookie after their Season opening win against Tennessee.

Recipient Rome Odunze underwent an MRI on Monday due to a knee injury sustained in the game against the Titans.

Coach Matt Eberflus said Odunze was injured while blocking on Sunday, but declined to comment on the severity of the injury or the team’s concerns.

“I don’t have enough information yet,” said Eberflus. “We’ll see on Wednesday.”

Odunze, selected No. 9 overall, had one catch for 11 yards against the Titans on a field goal drive late in the first half. Williams tried to hit DJ Moore in the huddle and the ball bounced high. Odunze caught the ball and dropped it before Chicago recovered it at Tennessee’s 10-yard line.

Odunze was targeted four times in the game and was involved in 77% of the offensive snaps. He hopped to the sideline during D’Andre Swift’s 20-yard run with 4:22 left in the game.

Odunze is part of a potentially strong trio in Chicago after leading the nation with a school-record 1,640 yards for Washington last season. The Bears also made a blockbuster trade for a receiver for the second consecutive year, acquiring six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers after signing 2023 wide receiver DJ Moore from Carolina.

Although Chicago lined up strong around him, it was not a smooth debut for Williams. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from Southern California overwhelmed receivers and finished the game with 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards and two sacks.

Eberflus said Williams’ footwork was a little off, but he said his quarterback was aware of the defense and made the right decisions.

“As the chemistry improves throughout the season as we pile up these games, it will get better,” Eberflus said. “He has a very precise arm. His timing is good. And the chemistry with the receivers will improve every week.”

The offense managed just 148 yards and no touchdowns, but the Bears still managed to pull away the win after trailing 17-0 thanks to their special teams and defense. Tyrique Stevenson returned an interception 43 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

“We know what we’re capable of, and we know we don’t want it to look like yesterday,” running back D’Andre Swift said. “So we’ve got to get back to work.”

What works

Special teams. Aside from a fumbled kickoff return by Velus Jones Jr., it was a good day for Chicago’s special teams. DeAndre Carter had a 67-yard kickoff return and Cairo Santos kicked three field goals, including a 50-yard field goal.

The biggest play came in the third quarter, when the Bears were trailing 17-3. Daniel Hardy blocked a punt, Jonathan Owens recovered it and carried it back 21 yards for a touchdown. Owens’ touchdown delighted his wife, star gymnast Simone Biles, who responded “I almost had a heart attack” in response to a post by X asking how she felt.

What needs help

The offense. The Bears know that 148 yards and zero touchdowns just aren’t enough. And that’s certainly not what they had in mind when they made all of these moves in the offseason. The Bears also struggled to get their running game going, allowing just 84 yards on 22 attempts.

Stock up

DE Darrell Taylor. One of the big questions entering the season was whether another edge rusher would be the complement to Montez Sweat.

Taylor got off to a good start with two sacks less than three weeks after transferring from Seattle. His biggest play was when he stripped Will Levis of his sack in the fourth quarter. TJ Edwards recovered the sack at Tennessee’s 31-yard line and the Bears settled for a field goal, cutting the deficit to 17-16.

In three seasons with the Seahawks, Taylor had 21 1/2 sacks. The Bears ranked 31st in that category despite getting a big boost from Sweat in a trade with Washington during his season.

Inventory is decreasing

Jones. Ball security has been an issue for Jones since the Bears drafted him in 2022. And it surfaced again on his first attempt of the season after Tennessee’s Tony Pollard ran for a touchdown in the final minute of the opening quarter. Jones let the kickoff run through his hands and kicked the ball forward about 20 yards. The Titans recovered at the Chicago 23-yard line and the Bears were lucky to limit them to a field goal.

Injuries

Odunze’s injury is obviously a cause for concern after the opening game.

Key figures

17 – Chicago scored 17 points on turnovers.

Next Steps

The Bears visit Houston on Sunday night, and Williams will face CJ Stroud, last season’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.

___

NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl