What Bears Wide Receiver Rome Odunze Wants to Improve in Year 3

The Chicago Bears are now four weeks into training camp. 

With a majority of the offensive players entering Year 2 in head coach Ben Johnson's system, the unit is further ahead now than it was at this point last year. Head coach Ben Johnson can see that, and so can defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. 

But there are still areas that are being worked out, especially in the wide receiver room. It's up to Johnson, offensive coordinator Press Taylor and the rest of the staff to figure out what each player does best. 

The Bears are going to incorporate more contested ball opportunities for third-year receiver Rome Odunze, something that was hardly utilized last season because Johnson wasn't a believer in the 50/50 ball. 

Odunze loves this new element in the Bears' offense as it provides another way to stress the defense on the outside.

"I feel like, you know, when it's 1-on-1 opportunity out there and you know, we got safety leverage, or something like that, and you know, 1-on-1 kind of 50/50 ball is one of my expertise, so something I'm excited about, something we've definitely worked on in camp," Odunze said. 

The Bears' receiver has come down with a few of his contested catch opportunities, an encouraging sign for the 6-foot-3, 214-pound receiver, but he also had something happen in Tuesday's training camp practice that happened far too often last season. Quarterback Caleb Williams fired a pass over the middle of the field and hit Odunze right in the chest while he was in the end zone, but he couldn't make the catch. 

Odunze dropped five passes last season -- second-most on the team. He must improve that area of his game if he wants the ball thrown to him during critical moments in games. 

With Odunze entering another season in Johnson's offense, he has his eyes set on several ways he can take his game to the next level. 

"I honestly just want to fine-tune in every single one of those things," Odunze said. "Obviously want to be better at the catch point this year make a lot more contested catches, you know, make some tough catches over the middle, as well as route running. I feel like, you know, my route running is up there, but I have a few, you know, nicks and knacks that I can clear up and make even better yards after catch, you know, run after catch is definitely something I'm looking to improve on as well."

Odunze has been watching tape of fellow wide receiver Luther Burden III and running back D'Andre Swift to see how he can improve his ability to make defenders miss. 

The former No. 9 overall pick in 2024 had a setback year in 2025, cut short by a stress fracture in his foot that cost him the final final five regular-season games. Now fully healthy and moving past the injury, Odunze is primed for a big year in Chicago's offense. 

“Rome's looking to play fast and he's looking to be great at the top of his routes," Johnson said. "He's a bigger body and so part of what his superpower is the contested catches as well. I'm not concerned. I think he's making plenty of separation as is right now. And I'm really pleased with what it looks like between Caleb and him, where the ball's being placed and him being able to torque and go up for the football when needed. He brings a different element to the offense than maybe what I've been around in the past. And I look forward to sinking into that.”