This was the game that the Chicago Bears had been waiting for from the rookie tight end Colston Loveland. After the first eight weeks of middling production and missing a game with an injury, the former Michigan Wolverine finally broke out against the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday. Loveland caught six of his seven targets (85.7%) for 122 yards, two touchdowns, including a 58-yard game-winning touchdown with 17 seconds left. For his efforts, he was named not just the NFC Offensive Player of the Week, but he earned a distinguished honor that only one other Bear has earned: the Nickelodeon Valuable Player award (NVP). Jokes aside, it was a tremendous performance by Loveland, and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams said it best in his postgame interview on the CBS broadcast that the Bears drafted him for a reason: to make big plays like he did to win them the game. Loveland knows that moving forward, he has to remain consistent, along with the rest of the team:
“Staying consistent, as long as the team, as long as we keep executing, keep being aligned, finding rhythm, like I said, whatever I’ve got to do to help the team win. Whatever I’m asked to do, I’m going to go out there and do it to the best of my ability, so that’s really it.”
It was a bit of a surprise to see Loveland play the game he did, considering Cole Kmet got injured due to a concussion, and the last time he was out there, he didn’t produce much. Kmet was out for the Bears’ 30-16 loss against the Baltimore Ravens, and Loveland only put up three catches for 38 yards on five targets. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said that much credit should go to the coaching staff and Loveland for their consistent development.
“I think it’s just been consistent, really. Since he’s gotten here, obviously, we didn’t get to spend a ton of time with him in the offseason, but when he’s been out there, he is a consummate professional. I really enjoy being around him. He has really grasped the offense, and I think he just continues to get better,” Doyle said. “I think Jim (Dray) has done a great job with him just since he’s been here. And I know you guys have asked about him, really, every week, kind of, when is he going to break out? And I think that that’s one of those things that it’s a guy doing a lot of work behind the scenes, and when his number is called, he’s ready for the moment, and he certainly was.”
Typically, in the NFL, it takes tight ends a lot more time to develop, having to master both routes and blocking assignments as they learn the offense. Kmet didn’t have a 100-yard receiving game until the fourth year of his career, Travis Kelce didn’t have one until year two, and while George Kittle had one in his rookie season back in 2017, it took him until Week 17 to accomplish that feat. It took Loveland seven games into his career to reach that milestone. Loveland’s closest comparison, Sam LaPorta, took 12 games to get over the 100-yard mark. That’s not to say that Loveland will turn out as well as those players, but it’s a good sign that Loveland is starting to find his role and make a name for himself in the NFL.
“Yeah, it was more important for the team, you know. Whatever we needed to do to get a win. I’ve been saying that. Whatever I’m asked to do, I need to go out there and execute it,” Loveland said. That’s why I’m here, that’s why the Bears drafted me, that’s what I’m supposed to do, so yeah. Super blessed to be put in that position and do something for the team.”
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