Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze missed the final five regular-season games with a foot injury.
But he expects to return for Saturday’s wild-card game against the Packers.
“I’m planning on playing,” Odunze said, via Andrew Seligman of the Associated Press. “But I’ve been planning on playing for weeks.”
Odunze was limited in Tuesday and Wednesday’s sessions.
He initially injured his foot in October but tried to play through it before sitting him after the win over the Eagles on Nov. 28.
In 12 games, Odunze has 44 receptions for 661 yards and six touchdowns.
“I can definitely provide an asset to this offense,” Odunze said. “It’s tough being out for five weeks and having to be on the sideline and have all that happen and go through that, the ups and downs of the season and not being able to contribute. As long as I have the option to be out there and contribute, I’m going to give it my all. I believe I can make a difference.”
The Packers will have a key special teams player back for Saturday night’s matchup against the Bears.
Green Bay announced Nick Niemann has been activated off of injured reserve on Wednesday, setting him up to play against Chicago.
Niemann has been out with a pectoral injury since late October. He has been a limited participant on Tuesday and Wednesday’s injury reports.
Niemann’s activation corresponds with receiver Bo Melton being placed on injured reserve.
Additionally, Green Bay has signed defensive lineman Anthony Campbell to the practice squad and placed receiver on the practice squad/injured list.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said earlier this week that expects quarterback Malik Willis and right tackle Zach Tom to be available against the Bears.
Their practice participation continues to point in that direction. Willis (right shoulder) and Tom (back, knee) were limited participants in practice for the second straight day.
Defensive lineman Warren Brinson (foot), safety Javon Bullard (knee), linebacker Nick Niemann (pectoral), and wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks also remained limited participants. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (shoulder), wide receiver Matthew Golden (Achilles), and defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness (foot) were the team’s full participants.
Wide receiver Bo Melton (shoulder) was the only player out of practice on Tuesday and he was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday.
The Bears did not have many changes on their injury report from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Notably, receivers Rome Odunze (foot) and DJ Moore (knee) remained limited as the club gets ready to face the Packers. Still, Odunze appears to be trending toward playing, especially as quarterback Caleb Williams told reporters on Tuesday that he’s excited to have Odunze back.
Odunze caught 44 passes for 661 yards with six touchdowns in 12 regular-season games.
Defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson (concussion) and defensive lineman Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (concussion) remained out.
Linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga (concussion) and defensive back Jaylon Jones (ankle) were added to the report as DNP and limited, respectively.
Defensive back Kyler Gordon (groin) and offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo (quad) remained limited.
Offensive lineman Braxton Jones (knee) and defensive back Nick McCloud (illness) remained full. Receiver Jahdae Walker (illness) was upgraded from DNP to full.
Bo Melton’s season is over.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said at his Wednesday press conference that Melton will be placed on injured reserve after injuring his knee in Week 18. Melton will have to miss four games as a result of the move, so he will not return to action before the Packers are finished playing.
The Packers experimented with Melton playing cornerback in the offseason, but he only saw action as a wide receiver and on special teams during the regular season.
Melton had four catches for 107 yards and a touchdown while averaging 24.6 yards as a kickoff returner. He was also credited with four tackles on special teams.
