After a quiet season opener, Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland looks to rebound in a tough Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Although the Chicago Bears set a new franchise record with 59 points in the season-opening win over the Carolina Panthers, one of the team's primary contributors from last season didn't record a single reception.
Bears tight end Colston Loveland finished the Week 1 game with just two targets for zero yards. The former No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft led the Bears in receiving last season in yards (713), receptions (58) and touchdowns (6).
According to ESPN's Courtney Cronin, Loveland ran a team-high 33 routes against the Panthers. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor provided insight on Loveland's Week 1 performance.
“We had plenty of opportunities where he was the primary," Taylor said. "I think there were two balls thrown his way. I think that we had an opportunity to hook up on that we didn't. Then there were a number of other times where the call, he was the primary, and the ball just didn't find him. The great thing about Colston is that's not a guy you worry about at all. You go back to Swifty's touchdown at the end of the third quarter there and Colston puts his man on the ground. That's just something that – you've gone through three quarters, you have no touches so far and you continue to fight and you continue to help others get in the end zone. You wouldn't have known if he had 10 catches or zero catches at the end of the game in the locker room the way he was. He's as excited for the offensive success that day."
As Taylor mentioned, there were opportunities throughout the game to get Loveland the ball. Before quarterback Caleb Williams connected with Cole Kmet for a 22-yard touchdown, the Bears' quarterback completed a 19-yard pass to running back Kyle Monangai. Loveland was open on an inbreaking route.
"So, dropped back, and they were in a two-high, and I ended up trying to alert the big one," Williams said. "And then from there, once I went to try and alert the big one, I just came down to Kyle. I felt the backers dropping out, gained a lot of depth, and obviously Kyle had a bunch of space in front of him, and just gave him a good runner's ball, trying to turn him upfield away from anybody. And he followed and trusted where the ball was, and went and got 19 for us."
(For reference, you can check out the play at the :18 second mark in the video below.)
Loveland had a slow start to his rookie season, securing 11 receptions for 116 yards in his first six games played. Against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9, Loveland exploded for six catches on seven targets for 118 yards and two touchdowns.
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Craft caught three passes on six targets for 65 yards in the team's 39-22 loss to the Vikings in Week 1. Last season, Minnesota allowed the fifth-least amount of receiving yards to tight ends (719).
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores will blitz Williams and try to get the ball out of his hands quickly. That could provide opportunities to get the ball to Loveland on shorter routes against Minnesota's linebackers.
Against one of the most aggressive defenses in the league, the Bears will need everyone on offense to contribute in the passing game, including Loveland, to come away with a victory in Week 2 at Soldier Field.
