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Bears could consider practice squad elevations to help with the wide receiver position that's 'in flux' for Sunday night

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Kole Noble | Last updated Sep 13, 2024 6:58 PM ET

The Chicago Bears will be entering the weekend with more than one question at the wide receiver position going into Sunday Night Football.

Veteran Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze were both listed as questionable for the Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans according to the final injury report.

Things still seem optimistic for both offensive weapons and the team will allow them to test out their respective injuries in pregame before making a decision. Whatever that decision might be, the team will need some insurance policies ready.

Odunze is dealing with an MCL sprain suffered against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. The first round pick practiced for the first time this week on Friday and noted that he felt "solid." The big thing for Odunze is making sure the soreness is managed properly so he can perform like himself again.

"Just movement," Eberflus said when asked about what he wants to see from Odunze before making a final decision. "Movement and acceleration and him being him."

Allen's injury is a little different. The veteran's heel injury has been bothering him since training camp and either though he managed to play last week, it appears he's had a set back with the injury he's dealing with.

"It's been progressing and then it took a step back," Eberflus said about Allen's injury. "We just want to give it some rest. That's really what the idea of this week was, just to rest and let it heal so [he's] able to move and cut and do the things he does."

As for the insurance policies if the team determines either player can't go on Sunday, Eberflus already noted that this week was going to be a big opportunity for second-year wide receiver Tyler Scott. Scott was a healthy inactive in the season opener but would have a much larger role this week due to the circumstances.

The only other wide receivers on the 53-man roster are returner Deandre Carter and Velus Jones Jr., whom the team used out of the backfield in Week 1. If the team wants to play things smart and have extra bodies available, they could consider calling up two other potential names from the practice squad.

The first is Collin Johnson, who had a huge game in the Bears preseason opener against the same team they'll be facing on Sunday, although different players will obviously be on the field. The second is former Green Bay Packers seventh-round pick Samori Toure, whom the team brought onto the practice squad after roster cuts.

Both players are still relatively inexperienced considering the two collectively have combined more 43 receptions in regular season action.

"I think you just evaluate what's best for the team; where would you put that guy and what would he do for you," Eberflus said on Friday. "We're asking all those questions right now because it is in flux a little bit. You got two guys who could be [out] or could not be. We'll look at that and see what's best for the football team."

Size is the main thing the Bears will be missing if Odunze or Allen were to miss Sunday's game. Johnson, at 6'6 and 222 pounds, fills that potential need and has spent more time learning the offense but there's a chance both players get elevated.

The Bears already have one confirmed elevation in place in long snapper Scott Daly, who started in Week 1 with Patrick Scales currently on the injured reserve. The Bears are allowed to only make three elevations per week and must decide on which players they will bring up before Sunday's game.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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