The good news is that the Chicago Bears will enter their Week 16 matchup against the Green Bay Packers with the NFL’s best offense since Week 5. This is a strong unit that sustains drives, doesn’t turn the ball over, and scores points. But the bad news is that offense goes into this week without two of its key contributors. Wide receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III have already been ruled out due to their respective injuries. No team is immune from the injury bug. But how does this one overcome key injuries ahead of a crucial game against a bitter rival? Let’s discuss.
Bears offense has options (even without Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III)
COLSTON LOVELAND SHOULD SEE MORE TARGETS
I hope you’ve noticed how well Colston Loveland has been playing lately.
The rookie tight end continues to see an increasing number of offensive snaps and an uptick in throws going his way. In following Loveland’s development this season, I have noticed sharper routes run as the year has chugged along. It is also worth noting that Loveland makes continued strides as a blocker. It is almost as if Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson’s “no block, no rock” mantra from the offseason has fully caught on among the receivers and tight ends at Halas Hall. And with Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III sidelined for this week, it feels like a good time to reward those whose blocking efforts have been strong with some more touches in the passing game.
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Colston Loveland (84) the go-ahead touchdown pass vs. the Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Nov. 2, 2025.Loveland has 39 catches, 498 receiving yards, and 4 touchdowns this season, with his best work coming of late. The University of Michigan product has started seven of the last nine games and has posted the following numbers: 45 targets, 34 receptions, 444 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns. As you can see, A healthy chunk of his production has come since the start of Week 7. Loveland is coming off a four-catch, 63-yard performance against the Cleveland Browns. The Bears could use more of that on Saturday against the Packers.
WEEK 16 INJURY REPORTS: Green Bay Packers | Chicago Bears
I’d love to add Cole Kmet as a contributor in this section, but his status for Saturday’s game is questionable. But if Kmet is healthy, the tight end tandem with Loveland could be tough for Green Bay to coever. Kmet had only three targets and two catches for 42 yards against the Packers in Week 14, but he also had this doozy of a 26-yard catch:
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— ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ (@Someone20241575) December 7, 2025MORE DJ MOORE (PLEASE)
With Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III out of the lineup, DJ Moore is the unquestioned WR1 entering Week 16. It has been a down year (statistically) for Moore. However, he is coming off a 4-catch, 69-yard, 2-score game against the Browns. Perhaps that is a sign that Moore and quarterback Caleb Williams are finally on the same page. Those two are too talented (individually) to not be able to connect on the gridiron. Perhaps Green Bay defenders will note this and send extra attention DJ’s way. If that happens, then we should see someone like Loveland or Olamide Zaccheaus pick up the slack.
ICYMI: DJ Moore is the Chicago Bears 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award Winner
DJ Moore had just three targets and one reception (which went for a 4-yard loss) in the first meeting against the Packers. I doubt it was in the Bears’ plans to not target one of its better playmakers in Week 14, so I imagine there will be a concerted effort to get Moore the ball early and often against Green Bay this time around. On an alternate timeline, I’d worry about force-feeding an overcorrection. But I don’t think Ben Johnson is that kind of coach.
DJ Moore (2) takes the field before the game against the New York Giants at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn ImagesRUN THE DANG BALL
As we discussed earlier in the week, the Bears have one of the NFL’s best rushing attacks. Entering this week’s slate of games, Chicago’s offense ranked second in rushing yards, sixth in ground scores, and fifth in yards per carry. There is a temptation to throw the rock early and often in a pass-happy NFL, but if your team can line up and run through its opponent, then it should simply do that until the opposition finds an answer.
In other words: Please run the dang ball.
The tag team of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai put in work against the Packers run defense in the first meeting between the teams. Swift led the way with 13 carries, 63 rushing yards, and a 4.8 yards per carry average. Meanwhile, Monangai manaed to add 57 yards on 14 carries. Neither player scored, but both were instrumental in getting the Bears into scoring position for quarterback Caleb Williams’ two touchdown passes. These two ball-carriers have been running like they were on a mission to carry Chicago’s offense. With Odunze and Burden out for this one, it would behoove the Bears to lean on their backfield tandem once again.
Kyle Monangai (25) runs against the Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn ImagesIt’s not as if the Denver Broncos were slaying it in the ground game last week. But rookie running back RJ Harvey had 65 rushing yards on 19 carrries and a touchdown. Green Bay’s defensive line might be vulnerable without star edge defender Micah Parsons. And while that might lend you to believe that the passing game will be the biggest beneficiary, not having to gameplan for Micah could help Chicago’s ground attack.
SCOREBOARD WATCHING: GAMES THAT MATTER FOR THE BEARS IN WEEK 16
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