The story of the Chicago Bears' season, as far as injuries go, up to this point, focused on the defense, specifically the secondary. The offense has been fortunate enough not to catch the injury bug for the most part, but it seems as though Chicago's luck in that department may have run out.
Wide receiver Rome Odunze had missed the previous game against the Green Bay Packers with a foot injury, but he was optimistic about playing in Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns. Odunze was fully ready to go, but just minutes before kickoff, he reaggravated the same foot injury. The severity of the injury wasn't quite known, and at the time, it may have seemed as though Ben Johnson was playing it safe. Since then, though, Ben Johnson revealed that "all options are on the table" regarding Odunze's injury and that shutting him down for a few games to keep him healthy is one of those options.
On top of Odunze's injury, Luther Burden III injured his ankle against the Browns in Week 15 and is currently considered day-to-day. If both Odunze and Burden III are set to miss Week 16 against the Packers, all eyes in Chicago will be on DJ Moore, and the stakes couldn't be higher. If this is the case, behind Moore on the wide receiver depth chart are Olamide Zaccheaus, Devin Duvernay, and rookie Jahdae Walker. Zaccheaus hasn't shown much since early on in the season, Duvernay has mainly just served as a returner, and Walker is yet to catch a pass in the NFL.
DJ Moore's Week 16 Performance Could Dictate His Future in Chicago
In Chicago's Week 14 game against the Packers, DJ Moore finished with 1 catch for -4 yards. Moore will need to do a complete 180 in Week 16's rematch if the Bears want a chance to split the season series with Green Bay. Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet will need to step up, but for the most part, their production has been relatively consistent compared to Moore's.
Moore is the guy who will need to set the tone for the WR room against the Packers and put Chicago in a power position in the NFC North. He's most certainly capable, as over the last four weeks, he's had a pair of 60+ yard, 2-touchdown games. For Moore to stay in Chicago's plans, he will need to show that he can get the job done on the biggest stage: A primetime game against the Packers as the Bears clear WR1 for the game.
Rome Odunze is 23 years old. Luther Burden III is 22, and Colston Loveland is 21. It's been questioned whether the 28-year-old DJ Moore fits into Ben Johnson's future offensive plans in Chicago, given that the rest of the receiving core is so young. Week 16, more than any game before and potentially after, is Moore's best chance to show Ben Johnson that he belongs with the Bears long-term.