D'Andre Swift, Rome Odunze Injured at Practice, Latest on Bears Stars Ahead of Week 1 vs. Panthers

The Chicago Bears received some tough injury news during Thursday's practice, as running back D'Andre Swift and wideout Rome Odunze each suffered injuries ahead of a Week 1 matchup with the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 13.

The Bears have already been managing a knee injury to running back Kyle Monangai, making any injury to Swift all the more concerning.

Swift, 27, led Chicago's backfield last season, rushing for 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns in Ben Johnson's run-heavy attack while adding 34 catches for 299 yards and another score. Monangai provided the boom stick, adding 783 yards and five scores on the ground.

If neither is ready to go for the season opener, Roschon Johnson would be next in line to lead the backfield.

The 24-year-old Odunze, meanwhile, only appeared in 12 games during the 2025 season but did register 44 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns. With D.J. Moore traded in the offseason to the Buffalo Bills, Odunze, Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland are expected to highlight the team's passing attack.

Odunze raised some eyebrows in the summer when he told reporters that last year's foot injury and the nature of that break created a "new normal" for him going forward, though he later clarified those remarks.

"I really didn't articulate it well, honestly. That's not really what I meant," he told reporters. "I just kind of meant that I had an injury. That's it. That's football. My foot feels great. My foot feels amazing. The training staff here, the training staffs I work with in the offseason, all the work that I've put in to get it right, honestly it's not even really something that I think about anymore which I think is the best thing I think you can have after an injury. I know 'new normal,' that has a bunch of connotations of chronic and severe, like it's never going to be the same. It's not like that at all. I'm completely fine. I went through my process of recovery and rehab, and it's been great. Obviously I do my due diligence and all those things. Being out sucks. That really is the No. 1 thing as a football player, any athlete, you all know, you don't want to be out—practice, game, whatever it is. Went through my process of getting that right, and I feel amazing."

Still, last year's injury issues makes Thursday's development a nervy one for the Bears as they look to replicate last year's playoff appearance and take the next step as a Super Bowl contender.