HOUSTON — The Bears hoped Keenan Allen’s injured heel would be rested all week so he could play Sunday, but the veteran receiver was ruled out of action 90 minutes before kickoff against the Texans.
Rookie Rome Odunze, who suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain in his right knee in the opening game against the Titans, was active. Odunze practiced Friday for the only time all week. Both were listed as questionable Friday afternoon.
Allen first injured his heel last month, but the Bears attributed it to a cleat issue — “He should be OK,” general manager Ryan Poles said Aug. 28. Coach Matt Eberflus said Friday the injury “got worse, then it went back — and we just want to give him some rest.”
Allen was clearly hampered in the season opener, despite leading the team with 11 targets and finishing second on the club with four catches and 29 yards. Allen went to the blue injury tent during the game and was unavailable to the media after the game.
Allen, who missed the end of last season with a heel injury, did not practice all week and did not participate in pregame workouts with other Bears players. The Bears traded a fourth-round pick for Allen in March, taking on his one-year contract with a salary cap hit of $23.1 million.
Before the game, Odunze was tested for the first knee injury of his football career. The No. 9 overall pick said Friday that he had been assured that he would not cause further damage to his knee if he played and that his participation was a matter of pain tolerance.
The Bears added sophomore receiver Tyler Scott to the team for the first time this season, and promoted Collin Johnson, who caught two touchdowns in the Hall of Fame game against the Texans, from the practice squad on Saturday and added him to the team on Sunday.
“(Johnson) had a great week of practice, so I know he’s ready,” general manager Ryan Poles said on the team’s official radio show on ESPN1000.
Velus out
After special teams coordinator Richard Hightower on Thursday called Velus Jones’ Week 1 fumble kickoff “unacceptable,” the Bears benched the running back on Sunday night. Jones was left off the roster due to health reasons.
“We’re going to take it week by week,” Poles said. “Obviously Velus was disappointed in himself and the botched kickoff, which was tough… it was unfortunate because he’s had such an offseason. …
“We have to do what is best for the team in the future.”
Veteran DeAndre Carter, who took Jones’ place as kick returner after the fumble and returned 67 yards on his only return, was the Bears’ primary returner on Sunday night. Carter has 119 kickoff returns for 2,713 yards in a seven-year career that has spanned six teams.
Jones, who switched from receiver to defensive back during training camp, was replaced on offense by second-year running back Roschon Johnson, who was inactive in Week 1.
this and that
• Linebacker Noah Sewell, tackle Kiran Amegadjie and defensive end Dominique Robinson were cut from the Bears’ roster. Fullback Khari Blasingame was out Friday with hand and knee injuries.
• Poles played golf last week with Phil Mickelson, who was in town for the LIV Tour. He said Mickelson has watched every episode of “Hard Knocks” and told the GM that, as a Southern California native, he is a big fan of Allen.
• The Texans played without center Juice Scruggs, running back Dameon Pierce, receiver John Metchie III, safety MJ Steward, linebacker Jamal Hill and linebacker Rashad Weaver, who were listed as unavailable for selection.
