Rome Odunze Sits Out Bears Practice as Swift, Monangai Return
Odunze missed Monday's session with a lower-body issue while D'Andre Swift (cramp) and Kyle Monangai (knee) were back on the field ahead of the Panthers opener.
Missed Monday's practice; needs Wednesday's official report before you trust him.
- Odunze missed Monday's practice after leaving Thursday early
- Swift's Thursday exit was just a cramp; back Monday
- Monangai returns from a hyperextended knee
- First official injury report drops Wednesday
- Bears open vs. Panthers this week
The Bears got two-thirds of their banged-up skill-position group back on the field Monday — but the one name fantasy managers care most about wasn't there. Rome Odunze, who left Thursday's practice early with what looked like a lower-body injury, did not participate at all Monday. That's now two missed sessions in a row with Chicago's opener against the Panthers days away.
The better news came at running back. D'Andre Swift, who also exited Thursday's practice early, was reportedly only dealing with a cramp and practiced Monday. Kyle Monangai joined him after missing most of the past month with a hyperextended knee. Chicago drops its first official injury report Wednesday, which is when we'll actually know whether any of these three are opener risks.
Where They Stand For Fantasy
Odunze is the domino to track. He caught 44 balls for 661 yards and 6 TDs across 12 games last season (2025), good for 146 PPR points, and he lands at WR38 (No. 112 overall) in our rankings. The problem: his last five games of 2025 ran 4.6 fantasy points below his season average, so he was already trending the wrong way before this. A missed practice this close to Week 1 is not a footnote.
Swift, meanwhile, remains Chicago's clear lead back and one of the few high-floor pieces here. He posted 1,087 rushing yards and 9 rushing TDs plus 34 catches in 16 games last season (2025) — 229 PPR points and a top-15 RB finish at No. 15 at the position (No. 41 overall). A cramp scare that resolves by Monday is exactly the kind of non-news you want. Nothing changes.
Monangai is the lottery ticket. He racked up 783 rushing yards and 5 TDs over 17 games last season (2025) for 143 PPR points, but he sits at RB31 (No. 117 overall) and his last five games came in 1.6 points under his average. Behind a healthy Swift, he's a handcuff and bye-week flier more than a weekly starter.
The move: lock Swift into your lineup and don't overthink the cramp. Monangai stays a stash. Odunze is the one to flag — hold him if you drafted him, but if you're leaning on him as a Week 1 flex, have a pivot ready and watch Wednesday's report closely before committing.
