LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The NFC North-leading Chicago Bears will be without top receiver Rome Odunze for Sunday's game at Green Bay because of a lingering foot injury.
Chicago (9-3) ruled him out on Friday. It's a tough blow for a team trying to maintain a slim lead in the division over the Packers (8-3-1). The Bears have won five straight and nine of 10, but they’ve struggled lately in the passing game.
Odunze did not practice this week. His foot has been bothering him since October, and the team had been managing the injury by having him sit out at least one practice per week.
Drafted with the No. 9 overall pick in 2024, Odunze emerged as the Bears' top receiver this season. He leads the team in receptions (44), yards receiving (661) and touchdown catches (six).
Linebacker T.J. Edwards is poised to return after missing the past four games because of hand and hamstring injuries. He was a full participant in practice on Friday after being limited earlier in the week.
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Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) warms up before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Ollie Watkins' second-half header gave Aston Villa a 1-0 win over Lille in the first leg of their Europa League round-of-16 tie on Thursday.
Just past the hour mark, Ezri Konsa sent a deep pass that Emi Buendía headed to Watkins in the home team's box. The England forward noticed goalkeeper Berke Özer was off his line before sending a looping header over him and into the net.
Minutes later, Watkins wasted a chance to double the advantage when he failed to score in a one-on-one with the 'keeper.
In an all-Italian derby, Bologna and Roma drew 1-1 in the first leg.
Porto took home a 2-1 advantage from Stuttgart. Terem Moffi and Rodrigo Mora scored six minutes apart in the first half for Porto before Deniz Undav netted for Stuttgart before the interval.
In Athens, Vicente Taborda converted from the spot two minutes from time as Panathinaikos overcame Real Betis 1-0 in a game where both sides were reduced to 10.
With the victory, Villa became the first English team this week to win their first-leg game in European competitions.
None of England’s six clubs in the knockouts of the Champions League won, with Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool losing. Only Arsenal and Newcastle picked up draws.
Nottingham Forest in the Europa League and Crystal Palace in the Conference League will be in action later Thursday.
Villa was also boosted by the return from injury of captain John McGinn, who came on as substitute in the 77th minute. He had missed seven weeks with a knee injury.
Federico Bernardeschi scored for host Bologna early in the second half to take a 1-0 lead against Roma. Substitute Lorenzo Pellegrini equalized just five minutes after he came off the bench.
The tie is still wide open, though Roma will take more experience into next week's second leg. Roma was runner-up twice, including in 2023, in this competition and coach Gian Piero Gasperini won the Europa League two years ago with Atalanta.
The Europa League format that launched last year lets teams from the same country meet at any point in the knockout phase. Previously, national derbies were possible only from the quarterfinals.
Later Thursday, Nottingham Forest hosts Danish club Midtjylland.
Celta Vigo plays the first leg against league-phase winner Lyon, while Freiburg visits Genk.
In the third-tier Conference League, Crystal Palace hosts AEK Larnaca.
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Roma's Lorenzo Pellegrini celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Europa League soccer match between Bologna and Roma in Bologna, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller, top centre, scores a goal that was disallowed after a VAR review, during the round of 16, first leg soccer match of the Europa League between VfB Stuttgart and FC Porto, in Stuttgart, Germany, Thursday March 12, 2026. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)
Bologna's Federico Bernardeschi scores their side's first goal of the game during the Europa League soccer match between Bologna and Roma in Bologna, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins falls over Lille's goalkeeper Berke Ozer during a first leg, round of 16 Europa League soccer match between Lille and Aston Villa in Lille, France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates after scoring during a first leg, round of 16 Europa League soccer match between Lille and Aston Villa in Lille, France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, left, scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest in Manchester, England, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Roma's Evan Ndicka celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Genoa and Roma in Genoa, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP)
Chelsea's Reece James, left, tackles Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers during their English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Chelsea in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
