Fantasy Injury News

Posted September 4, 2026 at 8:04 AM ET

What Happened

The Bears got a scare at Thursday’s practice when both running back D’Andre Swift and wide receiver Rome Odunze exited early with injuries, just over a week before Chicago opens the season against Carolina. Odunze came up hobbled during an early-practice install period with what appeared to be a right leg issue; he initially tried to stay on the field before trainers pulled him. Swift went down late in team drills after taking a handoff, leaving the field while holding his midsection in apparent discomfort.

Latest Status

The early updates are more reassuring than the initial scenes suggested. Per a national NFL reporter, Swift’s issue is being described as a cramp rather than a soft-tissue injury, though the Bears have not issued an official diagnosis. Odunze’s outlook looks better: preliminary word is that he should be fine, and head coach Ben Johnson had called him “completely healthy” just two days earlier. Chicago’s official injury report won’t drop until next Wednesday, so both situations are worth monitoring rather than panicking over.

Fantasy Impact

The timing stings because Chicago’s depth is already thin. Backup running back Kyle Monangai remains week-to-week with a knee injury, and wideout Luther Burden III has been dealing with a groin issue of his own. If Swift were to miss any time, fourth-year back Roschon Johnson is next in line for early-down work, though he’d be a clear downgrade as a fantasy option in most formats. On the outside, tight end Colston Loveland and Burden (once healthy) would be the natural beneficiaries of any missed Odunze snaps, with Burden’s own health now a variable worth watching alongside Odunze’s.

What to Watch

Both players have more than a week to recover before kickoff, and neither situation currently looks like a long-term concern based on the early word out of Halas Hall. Fantasy managers drafting this weekend should treat Swift and Odunze as their expected Week 1 starters for now, but check Wednesday’s official injury report before locking in lineups, especially if Swift is anything less than a full participant once practice resumes.