(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
LAKE FOREST, Ill., — With the Chicago Bears opening up training camp in a week at Halas Hall, one of the biggest questions on the team will be regarding injuries. That includes the team's No. 10 overall pick from the 2025 NFL draft, Colston Loveland.
The tight end has missed all of the offseason practices due to having shoulder surgery before being drafted by the Bears. Chicago was aware of Loveland's shoulder issues last season at Michigan but felt like like it was worth the risk to make him the No. 10 overall pick and hopefully a key piece to the offense for years to come. With Loveland not participating in any practices so far, the Bears don't seem worried about his injury or that it will cause him to miss a lot of time in training camp.
Over the weekend, while hosting a football camp in Ann Arbor, Loveland talked about his recovery and training camp looming.
"It's been good. There haven't really been live bullets flying yet," Loveland said via MLive. "We'll really know in camp once I get out there, doing a lot more stuff."
Head coach Ben Johnson didn't seem worried that Loveland would miss extra time in training camp. And did also note how mental reps for the rookie during the minicamps and OTA's the past few months will help as well.
Loveland echoed that as minicamp wrapped up in June.
"It's the mental reps. They're huge. They are just as important -- knowing the play, seeing it, literally exactly like I'm in there," Loveland said. "It's different doing it, obviously. But I'm doing everything I can, taking those mental reps, being in the playbook all the time. Just staying ahead really."
In three years at Michigan, Loveland had 117 receptions for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. That included a 2024 season in which he caught 56 passes for 582 yards and five touchdowns, despite some shaky quarterback play from the Wolverines.
Rookies will report to training camp this weekend before the full roster reports on July 22nd.
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