The Chicago Bears weren’t able to see first-round pick Colston Loveland at rookie minicamp as he continues to battle through his shoulder injury. However, both Loveland and the Bears have big plans for the tight end’s first season in the NFL.
Selected with the No. 10 overall pick, Loveland has been heralded for his supreme pass catching ability. His playmaking ability is why Chicago made him the first tight end off the board over Tyler Warren. But Loveland knows he is more of a well rounded player than analysts give him credit for.
It is undoubtable that head coach Ben Johnson will be scheming plays to get Loveland open in space. But even if he isn’t catching the ball, he wants to be a valuable resource in the blocking game or wherever is needed. Overall, Loveland wants to serve a multi-faceted role as a rookie and beyond, via the Mully & Haugh Show on 670 The Score.
“I think I can do it all,” Loveland said.
“Obviously, got a lot of room for improvement in all parts of my game. I guess you can take it however you want to take it when people say it’s a receiver in a tight end’s body. I think my route running, separation is very good, but needs improvement for sure. I think in the run game, just consistency,” Loveland continued. “There’s good stuff on tape. But we’re at the higher level now, so things are turned up a notch. So, I just got to continue to work on my craft, get better and lean on the vets around me to get better.”
Chicago Bears have big plans for Colston Loveland
Veteran Cole Kmet is expected to handle most of the short-game and in-line blocking work. However, being able to fill numerous different roles is the quickest way to get on the field. Furthermore, both Loveland and Kmet being versatile in what they do on a weekly basis will only make it more difficult for defensive coordinators to gameplan.
Still, the Bears took Loveland at No. 10 because of his playmaking ability. First and foremost, they want him to catch passes and become a crucial weapon for quarterback Caleb Williams. Ben Johnson helped Sam LaPorta join the NFL elites during his time with the Detroit Lions. Now it’s Loveland’s turn to learn under the newly minted head coach.
Over his three years at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship in 2023, setting a new career-high with 649 yards. Then, Loveland was named Second-team All-American to end his Wolverines career, setting new career-bests in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five).
The Bears are going to be cautious with Loveland as he recovers from shoulder surgery. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him not take full contact into training camp. However, Chicago is confident that Loveland will be ready once the games start to count.
By then, Johnson will need to have a clear plan in place for Loveland and the entire offense. Alongside Kmet, the Bears have DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden to feed. On paper it is one of the most exciting passing games in the league. But the Bears must prove all of the pieces fit together perfectly.
Once he returns to the field, Loveland will play a major part in that theoretical offensive success. He is ready for whatever role is thrown at him, passing or blocking. Ultimately, Loveland just wants to the next great Bears tight end and show the NFL what he truly has to offer.
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