The Chicago Bears may face the San Francisco 49ers without one of their best players.

The Chicago Bears plan to continue their remarkable 2025 NFL season with a win against one of the best teams in the league in recent years, the San Francisco 49ers. Just like the Bears, the 49ers went from worst to best and now enter Week 17 with high expectations.

There is a lot at stake for both teams. The Bears (11-4) are drawing closer to the NFC North title, while the 49ers (11-4) will try to stay close to the NFC West leaders, the Seattle Seahawks (12-3), ahead of the season finale. Besides visiting Levi’s Stadium, the Bears will have to face another challenge.

Star wide receiver Rome Odunze hasn’t played since the Week 13 duel against the Philadelphia Eagles. The former No. 9 overall pick continues to deal with a mysterious foot injury that has kept him sidelined in the last three weeks.

According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the Chicago Bears’ second-year wide receiver isn’t trending in the right direction to play on Sunday night.

“My understanding has been Odunze is dealing with a stress fracture in that foot,” Pelissero said on Friday’s episode of “Good Morning Football.” “He actually played with it for several weeks before it just became too much. Rest is the only thing that’s going to help Odunze; this is not a surgical matter. We’ll see if he can get any work on the field today, but at this point, it seems like it’s trending toward him being out for another week.”

The news only got worse from there, as Odunze has since been ruled out.

The Bears are on a two-game winning streak, which includes the 22-16 overtime win over the Packers on Saturday. They are one of the hottest teams in the NFC. The 49ers will have to bring their best game to take them down.

Rome Odunze has thrived in his second season with the Chicago Bears

Sep 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) celebrates a two point conversion during the second half against Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Despite a complex start to the season, Rome Odunze, just like quarterback Caleb Williams, took advantage of having an offensive genius like Ben Johnson on the sideline. The Washington product elevated his game in 2025, recording 44 receptions for 661 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games.

It took D.J. Moore three games to surpass him in yards receiving (664) and tie him in touchdowns. However, Odunze still leads the Bears in yards per reception (15.0), yards per game (55.1) and targets (90).

Having Odunze on the sideline has been a major hit to the Bears’ offense. However, Johnson and Co. have proven that they can pull off big results even without their WR1 on the field.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.