Injury Woes Test the Bears' Super Bowl Ambitions Before the Season Opener

The Chicago Bears wrapped up their preseason with a 24-15 road win over the Tennessee Titans, but the victory felt secondary to what happened on the practice field just days later. With the regular season now hours away, Chicago finds itself navigating a familiar obstacle: injuries to key offensive pieces.

The September Scare

During the Bears' final padded practice before their long weekend, two essential offensive players exited early. Wide receiver Rome Odunze came up hobbling during the install session and was tended to by a trainer, while running back D'Andre Swift departed late in practice appearing to be in significant discomfort. Head coach Ben Johnson later revealed Odunze is dealing with a foot injury and described him as "more day-to-day right now," expressing hope he'll be available for Sunday's opener in Charlotte.

Swift's issue turned out to be cramping, and both he and fellow running back Kyle Monangai returned to practice Monday. Odunze, however, sat out that session—a concerning development for a receiver expected to be Williams' top target after Chicago's offseason roster reshuffling.

Questions on the Blind Side

The receiver situation isn't the only offensive concern. The Bears officially named Braxton Jones the Week 1 starter at left tackle, ending a competition that included Theo Benedet, Kiran Amegadjie, and Jedrick Wills. Jones has started 44 games over the past four seasons, but the team released Amegadjie and Wills during roster cuts, leaving the position thin behind him. Jones faces a "career crossroads," as one analyst put it, and protecting Caleb Williams' blind side against Carolina's front will be his first test.

Depth Concerns in the Trenches

The defensive side has its own issues. After trading Gervon Dexter Sr., Chicago's defensive tackle rotation is thinner than the roster suggests. Grady Jarrett and Kentavius Street anchor the group, but the drop-off after them raises questions about how the Bears will hold up against teams that commit to the run. Carolina's ground game produced 110.5 yards per outing last season, and with the Panthers' offensive line missing both starting tackles, the Bears' front should have opportunities to impact Bryce Young—but only if the interior holds.

What This Means for Week 1

The betting market has already responded to the matchup dynamics. Chicago opened as a 2.5-point road favorite and has since moved to -3, suggesting respect for a Bears team that went 12-7 last season and carries Super Bowl aspirations. The implied probabilities from those numbers put Chicago's chances of winning outright at roughly 62 percent—a notable edge for a road team in Week 1.

Yet the Bears' path to that expected outcome depends heavily on health. Odunze's status will dictate how aggressive Johnson can be with deep shots. Swift, who caught passes out of the backfield effectively last season, gives Williams a reliable checkdown option. If both are limited, Chicago's offense could struggle to find rhythm against a Carolina defense that allowed just 22.3 points per game in 2025.

The Bigger Picture

NFL executives believe the Bears can build on their 2025 success and reach the Super Bowl this season. That confidence stems from Williams' continued development and a defense anchored by Montez Sweat. But Super Bowl ambitions die quickly when opening-day lineups are compromised before the first snap.

Chicago's roster has depth at running back with Swift, Monangai, and Zavier Scott available. The receiver room is less forgiving—after Odunze, the Bears lean on Kaden Davis, Luther Burden III, and Kalif Raymond, a veteran working through his own injury rehab.

The good news for Bears fans: even with Odunze questionable, Chicago's receiving corps is better equipped to handle an absence than in years past. The concern lies in the offensive line, where one injury to Jones could force a player with minimal NFL experience into the most important protecting role on the field.

Sunday's game against the Panthers will reveal whether the Bears can overcome these early hurdles. The talent is there. The depth is being tested before the season even starts.