In sports, one of the best ways for a new player or a rookie to build chemistry with his teammates is by being on the field or court and practicing with them. Just because that's one of the best ways to do it doesn't mean there aren't other avenues to build strong bonds with teammates. While he sits out recovering from his shoulder surgery, Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland has been using his time off the field to create connections with his coaches and teammates.
"I feel like the camaraderie and the relationships with the guys and the whole team, staff as a whole, has been really good. It's been good to connect and just build those relationships. We're all in the same mindset. We're all headed to one goal," Loveland said. "A lot of like-minded individuals in this building. It's good to feel that and know that, we're really just focused on working, and I'm trying to get back ASAP."
Arguably, the most important relationship in the tight end room coming into this season will be the one between Loveland and the veteran Cole Kmet. Outside of the standard 'veteran mentor' role, the Bears expect Kmet to be for Loveland, head coach Ben Johnson ran 12 personnel 32.2% of the time in 2024 with the Detroit Lions (third highest percentage in the league), so those two will be on the field a lot together. That and the fact that the two probably needed to clear the air after the Bears selected Loveland in the first round this past draft, which Kmet was taken aback by when the pick was initially made. According to Loveland, that bond seems to be in a good place.
"All of the tight ends have been super helpful. Cole, that's a vet right there. He does everything the right way. He's really good at football; really good mentally, really good physically. It's a great guy that I can look up to, and he's been very coachable," Loveland said. "He's been letting me know; I run a route or do something, he'll tell me some things, how he sees it, some coverage things, or whatever that may be. He's been super helpful, and I'm very appreciative."
While we more likely than not won't see this pairing on the field until training camp, while Loveland recovers from surgery, there are things to look at from Loveland's days at the University of Michigan to show that the two can work together well. Everyone and their brother (myself included) has compared Loveland to Sam LaPorta, and for good reason. He has great height and size as a tight end, but he's also very quick-footed and athletic, creating matchup problems for linebackers and safeties in how to cover him. Loveland could be that middle vertical threat, opening up Kmet as an underneath security blanket for quarterback Caleb Williams. The two are also strong blockers in the run game, and could either line up on the same side or opposite side to support the offensive line. Anyway you slice it, Loveland and Kmet have very complementary skills for each other. As we wait to see what a potential Kmet-Loveland duo can do on the field in training camp and the pre-season, Loveland is doing everything he can to hit the ground running when training camp hits by learning the playbook and learning from everyone around him.
"It's definitely the playbook. Obviously, have to take care of everything physically, but mentally, it's a lot, all you guys know that," Loveland said. "It's one thing to know it, and then to go out there and do it in real time. It's just the walk-thru reps, the mental reps, like I've said, those are huge and crucial. My teammates around me are doing a great job. Any questions, they're very coachable, and it goes both ways. It's been great."
The dedication that Loveland has shown in his preparation has not been lost on the coaching staff, particularly from Johnson.
"I think what I can gather, from the walk-thrus, from the meetings, is he's very professional, he takes everything seriously," Johnson said. "I think he's going to fit in really well once we start getting him to go full speed. I know (Tight Ends) Coach (Jim) Dray has said to me, numerous times, how impressed he is for the types of questions he's asking at his young age."
As he waits to get back onto the field, Loveland is taking it day by day, working to get closer to being the player the Bears think he can be.
"Yeah, obviously, as a competitor, I want to be out there, but just doing what I can. Continue to work. It's a blessing to even be here right now, to be alive, to be in Chicago on this amazing team," Loveland said. "I'm just keeping where my feet are, enjoying every moment, getting better every day, one percent, at least, and just go from there."