What we learned from the Bears, including Rome Odunze responding to his dad's social media posts

CHICAGO — Nobody at Halas Hall is worried about Rome Odunze.

Odunze’s father James Odunze caught the attention of Bears fans on social media this week when he shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) suggesting the Bears should “trade Rome Odunze to a team that will actually throw to him.”

Speaking on Thursday at Halas Hall, the younger Odunze said he doesn’t “make a big deal out of it” with regard to his father’s social media posts.

The Bears have seen no complaints from Rome Odunze, the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft.

“Rome has been a selfless guy,” receivers coach Antwaan Randle El said. “So I don’t know where that’s coming from but I know the guy we got is spot-on what we need.”

Here’s more on the social media drama and what else the Tribune learned Thursday at Halas Hall.

1. Rome Odunze speaks for himself.

X users shared James Odunze’s original post more than a thousand times and viewed it more than 10 million times. In a later post, James Odunze gave props to Marvin Harrison Sr., who criticized the Arizona Cardinals offense. Harrison’s son Marvin Harrison Jr. was selected five spots ahead of Rome Odunze in the 2024 NFL draft.

Responding to a commenter who suggested the team is more important than any one individual, James Odunze posted, “Rome is my TEAM.”

Rome Odunze said he spoke with his father this week, but he preferred to keep that conversation private.

“He feels like he needs to voice those things on social media,” Rome Odunze said. “That’s his prerogative. But he speaks for himself. I speak for myself.”

The entire discussion came about after the younger Odunze had zero catches in Sunday’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Considering the Bears scored 47 points in the game, it was not the stat line one might expect from a top receiver in a shootout victory.

Odunze saw three targets in the game, which marked his fewest of the season. Despite the goose egg, Odunze still leads the Bears in receptions (31), receiving yards (473) and receiving touchdowns (five).

Odunze, 23, made clear he’s not upset with his usage in coach Ben Johnson’s offense.

“I’m happy,” he said. “I’m just trying to do my job within this organization as a leader, as a person, as an individual and then as a football player. So trying to excel at a Hall of Fame level in those aspects. That’s all I’m focused on.”

About 24 hours after James Odunze’s original post, the Bears official X account — perhaps coincidentally, perhaps not — posted a two-minute video highlighting Rome Odunze’s blocking efforts in the win.

The caption read: “Selfless.”

“He had three targets last week and at the end of the day he was still blocking like crazy,” Randle El said. “Inside, out, going down and finishing plays. So those plays, that’s when you really appreciate the guy that you have when he’s making those types of plays (even) when he’s not getting a bunch of targets.”

Rome Odunze said blocking in Johnson’s offense, specifically, is a lot of fun. The creativity of some of the play designs often necessitates reliable blocking from the receivers out wide.

“I just like at the end of the play knowing your block sprung a play or your block was important,” he said. “I think that’s just the biggest thing receivers like. A lot of times with the scheme designs, your block (as a receiver) isn’t important a lot of times. But in this offense, your block is key for those explosive plays.”

2. No ejection?

The Bears figure Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. will be fined for the unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty during the second quarter Sunday. Brown was on top of defensive end Montez Sweat after the play and had his right knee in Sweat’s chest as he attempted to choke him at one point.

“I was surprised (Brown) didn’t get ejected,” said defensive tackle Andrew Billings, who was the first teammate to aid Sweat. “They were in the red zone and you choke me, I’m not going to be that good on the next play because I’m not breathing.

“The whistle had blown and that’s why I was surprised it was still going on.”

Asked if he was surprised Brown wasn’t ejected given that the penalty wasn’t at all related to game play, Sweat chuckled.

“I’m on to next week,” he said.

The penalty was significant. Because it was after the play — an incomplete Joe Flacco pass — the Bengals went from second-and-goal at the 6-yard line to second down at the 21. They settled for a 33-yard Evan McPherson field goal.

3. Running backs returned to full participation in practice.

The Bears saw several upgrades at key offensive positions at practice Thursday.

Running backs D’Andre Swift (groin) and Kyle Monangai (ankle) and tight end Cole Kmet (concussion) were full participants after being limited Wednesday. Safety Kevin Byard III (back/ankle) and wide receivers DJ Moore (hip/groin) and Odunze (ankle/heel) were limited after not practicing the day before.

Linebacker T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring), defensive back Josh Blackwell (concussion) and defensive end Dominique Robinson (ankle) all sat out practice. Veteran offensive lineman Joe Thuney took a rest day.

Defensive lineman Grady Jarrett practiced in full after taking a rest day Wednesday, and wide receiver Luther Burden III (concussion) and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga (knee) were full participants for a second straight day.

The Bears activated Ogbongbemiga off injured reserve and waived linebacker Carl Jones Jr. in order to make space for Ogbongbemiga on the 53-man roster.