Bears to be without two key weapons for Packers showdown

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. David Banks-Imagn Images

Bears QB Caleb Williams to be without two key weapons for Packers showdown

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Dec 18, 2025 7:06 PM ET

The Green Bay Packers have lost defensive end Micah Parsons to a season-ending ACL tear, but the Chicago Bears will also be short-handed in Saturday's game at 8:20 p.m. ET on Fox.

On Thursday, the team ruled out wide receivers Rome Odunze (foot) and rookie Luther Burden III (ankle) after they failed to practice this week. Bears head coach Ben Johnson hinted they could keep Odunze sidelined to help him get healthy before the playoffs. The WR has been battling the foot issue since October.

"We're going to do what's best for Rome first and foremost," Johnson told the media. "He just wants to be out on the field competing and contributing and helping our team win. So, there may be a case where we have to protect him from himself a little bit and make sure we get him right, and he'll be able to help us down the road."

How absence of WRs impacts Bears

Odunze has emerged as one of Bears second-year quarterback Caleb Williams' favorite targets. After 15 weeks, the former Washington star leads the team in receptions (44), receiving yards (661) and touchdown catches (six).

Rome Odunze & Luther Burden III have been ruled out of Saturday night's game vs. Green Bay
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 18, 2025

Burden, meanwhile, has been gaining the QB's trust. That was apparent in Chicago's 31-3 Week 15 win over the Cleveland Browns, where the second-round pick out of Missouri logged a season-high six receptions for 84 yards.

The Bears still feature WR DJ Moore, who has 43 receptions for 567 yards and five TD catches in 14 games, and Johnson mentioned he's confident in the WR room's depth.

"I've been really pleased with that room," he said. "They're in a great spot, and I feel that way about all the guys that are either on the practice squad or have been primarily special teams players to this point."

But beating the Packers without two of their biggest weapons will prove challenging for the Bears, even if Green Bay is without Parsons. The NFC North squad ranks eighth in the league in passing yards allowed (194.1).

Expect the Bears (10-4) to play smashmouth against Green Bay (9-4-1) on Saturday. They're clearly not in a position to air it out without two of their top playmakers.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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