Colston Loveland Injury News & Updates

Loveland caught three of four targets for 40 yards in Sunday's 19-17 win over the Vikings.

Loveland was outproduced slightly by Cole Kmet (five catches on five targets for 45 yards), as the two tight ends were two of three players to reach 40 receiving yards for the Bears, along with Rome Odunze (two catches for 41 yards on six targets). Loveland's impact in the passing game has grown in recent weeks, but Chicago has also shifted to a more run-first approach during that stretch. The rookie 10th overall pick has 213 receiving yards in his last three games heading into Chicago's Week 12 home game against the Steelers.

Loveland caught all four of his targets for 55 yards in Sunday's 24-20 win over the Giants.

Loveland finished second on the team in receiving yards behind Rome Odunze (86), though this was a substantial step back from Loveland after the rookie first-round pick broke out for 118 yards and two touchdowns in the Week 9 win over the Bengals. Prior to Week 9, Loveland hadn't exceeded 38 receiving yards in a game, but he looks to have surpassed Cole Kmet as the go-to pass catcher among Chicago's tight ends heading into a Week 11 road matchup against the Vikings.

Loveland secured six of seven targets for 118 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears' 47-42 win over the Bengals on Sunday.

The rookie put a thrilling cap on the wildest fourth quarter of the season, recording a 58-yard catch and run touchdown where he bounced off a would-be tackler in the middle of the field and sprinted into the end zone with 17 seconds remaining. Loveland preceded that memorable play with a five-yard scoring grab in the first half of the third quarter, and the two catches served as the 2025 first-round pick's first pair of NFL touchdowns. Loveland's career-high reception, yardage and target totals were partly the result of Cole Kmet exiting the game with a concussion in the second quarter, but the former is clearly earning the right to more playing time by the week.

Loveland caught three of five targets for 38 yards in Sunday's 30-16 loss to the Ravens.

The rookie tight end got the start in place of Cole Kmet (back), and it looked like Loveland might be headed for a breakout performance after he caught Caleb Williams' first pass of the afternoon for an 18-yard gain. Loveland and the Bears' offense both struggled to gain consistent yards after that, however. Kmet had never missed a regular-season game in his career before Sunday and isn't expected to go on injured reserve, but even if he sits out a Week 9 tilt against the Bengals, Loveland will still be tough to rely on.

Loveland is expected to serve as the Bears' No. 1 tight end and see a spike in playing time Sunday against the Ravens with Cole Kmet (back) inactive for the contest, Phil Thompson of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Following the Bears' Week 5 bye, Loveland had already noticed an uptick in snaps, handling a 51 percent share in a Week 6 win over the Commanders and a 41 percent share in the Week 7 win over the Saints. Though the Bears will have Durham Smythe and Stephen Carlson on hand as depth options at tight end, Loveland likely stands to see an even greater bump in snaps, with the absence of Kmet making the rookie first-round pick the clear top pass-catching option at the position. Loveland has flashed some upside in his limited opportunities thus far, recording eight receptions for 78 yards on 13 targets through his first five NFL games.

Loveland caught three of four targets for 24 yards in the Bears' 26-14 win over the Saints on Sunday.

Loveland has eight receptions over five contests and continues to see limited work. He remains a watch-list tight end in most formats.

Loveland caught two of three targets for 11 yards in the Bears' 25-24 win over the Commanders on Monday.

Loveland has five receptions this season, and limited usage keeps him a watch-list tight end until his usage increases.

Loveland (hip) is listed as active Monday at Washington.

Loveland last suited up during a Week 3 win against the Cowboys, when he injured his hip early on and was forced to miss the Bears' Week 4 victory at Las Vegas. Following the team's Week 5 bye, the rookie first-rounder followed up back-to-back limited sessions with a full practice Saturday, paving the way for his return to action. Loveland likely will continue to play a distant second to Cole Kmet in Chicago's pecking order at tight end moving forward.

Loveland (hip) is listed as questionable for Monday's game in Washington.

Since injuring his hip Week 3, Loveland was inactive Week 4 and then was limited in the first two practices coming out of the Bears' Week 5 bye, but Saturday's full practice has him trending in the right direction ahead of Monday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff. The rookie first-round pick has hauled in three of six targets for 43 yards through three contests to begin his career.

Loveland (hip) was a limited practice participant Friday.

Loveland was also limited Thursday, following a Week 4 absence and Week 5 bye. He'll likely just be Chicago's No. 2 tight end if he ends up playing Monday night at Washington.

Loveland (hip) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.

After suffering a hip injury Week 3 against the Cowboys, Loveland managed just one limited practice before the Bears made him inactive Week 4 versus the Raiders. Even with the benefit of a Week 5 bye, the rookie first-round pick still is operating with a cap on his reps, but he'll have two more opportunities to log a full practice ahead of Monday's game at Washington.

Loveland (hip) was spotted on the field during the media-access portion of Tuesday's practice session, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.

After he managed just one limited practice in Week 4 prep due to the hip injury, Loveland ended up sitting out Sunday's 25-24 win over the Raiders. The rookie first-round pick appears to be trending in the right direction, however, as he took the field for an unofficial practice Tuesday during the team's Week 5 bye. With extra time to heal up from the hip issue, Loveland should be on track to return to action for the Bears' Week 6 matchup with the Commanders on Oct. 13.

Loveland (hip) is listed as inactive Sunday in Las Vegas.

Loveland made an early departure from last Sunday's win against the Cowboys due to a hip injury that didn't allow him to practice until Friday, when he was limited and given a questionable designation. He began to trend in the wrong direction for Week 4 after Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Saturday afternoon that Loveland wasn't expected to be available Sunday, which now has been confirmed. Cole Kmet (groin) is poised to handle most of the TE reps Sunday, with Durham Smythe and Stephen Carlson in reserve roles. Meanwhile, Loveland's next chance to suit up is Monday, Oct. 13 at Washington following a Week 5 bye.

Loveland (hip) is not expected to play against the Raiders on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Loveland missed the first two practices of the week due to a hip injury he picked during the Bears' Week 3 win over the Cowboys. He earned the questionable tag for Week 4 after logging a limited practice Friday, but it appears the rookie first-rounder is trending toward being in street clothes for Sunday's tilt. Cole Kmet will continue to serve in a near every-down role, but Loveland's absence opens the door for Durham Smythe to see extended playing time in multi-TE formations. Stephen Carlson was also elevated from the practice squad to the active roster to provide additional depth at tight end due to Loveland's anticipated absence.

Loveland (hip) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Las Vegas, after returning to practice Friday as a limited participant.

For fantasy purposes, Loveland's absence is mostly worth tracking from the perspective of how it might boost snap/route shares for other pass catchers in the Chicago offense. Cole Kmet has been in a near-every-down role so far, with Loveland merely working as the No. 2 tight end in multi-TE formations. That won't necessarily be the case all year, but it figures to persist in Week 4 if Loveland does ends up playing.

Loveland (hip) was a non-participant at Thursday's practice.

Loveland left this past Sunday's win against the Cowboys in the second quarter due to a hip injury and wasn't able to return. Since then, the rookie first-round pick hasn't been able to practice this week, giving him one more chance to mix into drills before the Bears potentially make a ruling on his availability for Sunday's game in Las Vegas. If Loveland misses the first game of his career, veteran TE Cole Kmet would be in line for a few more passes from QB Caleb Williams.

Loveland (hip) didn't participate in Wednesday's practice.

Loveland wasn't able to return to this past Sunday's win against the Cowboys after hurting his hip in the second quarter. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Monday that Loveland was believed to have avoided a serious health concern, and that he had a chance to miss no time as a result. Nevertheless, with no practice reps to speak of to kick off Week 4 prep, Loveland likely will need to mix into drills Thursday and/or Friday to give himself a chance to suit up Sunday in Las Vegas. As for veteran TE Cole Kmet, he was limited Wednesday due to a groin injury, so the health of Chicago's top two options at the position are compromised at the moment.

Loveland (hip) is believed to have avoided a severe injury, and he has a chance to gain clearance in time to suit up Sunday versus the Raiders, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Loveland suffered a hip injury during the second quarter of Sunday's win over the Cowboys, but it appears he has a chance to avoid missing any significant time. The rookie first-rounder flashed his downfield playmaking ability before leaving the field versus Dallas, securing one of three targets for 31 yards. If Loveland is forced to miss time or face a limited snap count, Cole Kmet will handle an expanded workload at tight end.

Loveland suffered a hip injury during Sunday's game against the Cowboys..

Loveland spent a lengthy spell in the sideline medical tent in the second quarter before going to the locker room, after which the Bears considered him questionable to return. Prior to his exit, he had one catch (on three targets) for 31 yards. Cole Kmet will take on greater significance in the Bears offense for as long as Loveland is sidelined.

Loveland failed to secure his lone target in the Bears' 52-21 loss to the Lions on Sunday.

After being shut out on one target in the season opener, Loveland caught both of his targets against the Lions for modest yardage. The rookie has seen half of the targets that fellow tight end Cole Kmet has. Loveland may work his way into an expanded role, but he's currently a risky fantasy option.

Loveland finished with two receptions for 12 yards on two targets in Monday's 27-24 loss to the Vikings.

The rookie first-round pick took the field for 38 of the Bears' 67 snaps on offense, but he still served as the team's No. 2 tight end behind veteran Cole Kmet, who started and logged 60 snaps while finishing with a 31-yard reception on four targets. Though Loveland brings more pass-catching upside to the table than Kmet, he could need more practice reps to get comfortable in head coach Ben Johnson's offense before carving out a larger role after he sat out rookie minicamp and OTAs while recovering from shoulder surgery.

Loveland had two receptions for 26 yards on as many targets in Sunday's preseason rout of the Bills.

Projected starter Cole Kmet made his preseason debut, but Loveland still got some work in with the starting offense. In fact, the 10th-overall pick in this year's draft caught QB Caleb Williams' first pass attempt of the evening. The more-experienced Kmet is expected to be the starter this season, but Sunday showed us that Loveland will get worked into this new-look offense under Ben Johnson.

Loveland caught one of two targets for eight yards in Sunday's 24-24 preseason tie against the Dolphins.

Both of Loveland's targets came on the opening drive, as the Bears made it a point of emphasis to get the rookie 10th overall pick involved early, even with starting quarterback Caleb Williams resting Sunday. Loveland is projected to split snaps with Cole Kmet in the regular season, but the former's participation Sunday puts to bed any remaining concerns about Loveland's recovery from January shoulder surgery. Chicago's next preseason game against the Bills on Aug. 17 could present Loveland's first opportunity to catch passes from Williams in a game situation.

Loveland (shoulder) took first-team reps in 11-on-11 drills Tuesday, Alyssa Barbieri of USA Today reports.

Loveland was eased into training camp during the first week of Chicago's practices, but he now appears fully recovered from January shoulder surgery, which had held him out of pre-draft workouts and spring activities. The rookie first-round pick has reportedly impressed early, including via a flashy third-down connection with quarterback Caleb Williams during 11-on-11 reps Tuesday. Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Loveland has displayed full confidence in his shoulder's strength and durability during both blocking and pass-catching reps. Head coach Ben Johnson had high praise of Loveland's early momentum, saying "it's really encouraging when you look at a young player like that and the growth that he's going to be able to have with the more reps that he gets."

Loveland (shoulder) did 7-on-7 drills for the first time Saturday, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.

The Bears are easing their first-round pick into training camp after January shoulder surgery held him out of pre-draft workouts and spring practices. The next big step for Loveland is full-team drills, which could come within the next few days. Participation in the first week of camp is a good sign he'll have time to ramp up and compete for a role before Week 1.

GM Ryan Poles said Tuesday that Loveland (shoulder) is "ready to go" for the start of training camp, but there may be a ramp-up period for the rookie tight end, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Despite undergoing surgery on the AC joint in his right shoulder in January, Loveland still was the first tight end off the board in this year's draft, going to the Bears 10th overall. He proceeded to miss the entire offseason program and acknowledged last week that he may not be ready once camp kicked off this week. Nevertheless, the Bears seemingly will ease him in with the eventual aim to get him some preseason reps and be full-go by Week 1. Loveland will be vying with Cole Kmet for TE targets from second-year signal-caller Caleb Williams to begin his NFL career.

Loveland (shoulder) said last week that his rehab is going well but he'll still need to test things during training camp, MLive.com's Aaron McMann reports.

The 10th overall pick didn't participate in offseason practices after undergoing surgery in January. He said in June that he expected to be ready for the start of training camp, but Bears coach Ben Johnson sounded less confident about the matter. Chicago's rookies report Saturday, with veterans then joining Tuesday. We may thus get an update on Loveland's progress at some point next week, although contact work and full-team drills may not start in earnest until the end of the month. Once healthy, the rookie will compete with returning starter Cole Kmet for playing time.

Bears coach Ben Johnson said Tuesday that he doesn't know if Loveland (shoulder) will be a full-go at the start of training camp, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.

Loveland said he should be ready, but Johnson didn't sound so sure. The 10th overall pick has been limited during Chicago's offseason program, with his recent workload including route-running on a side field. He underwent shoulder surgery in January, and while he's since resumed lifting weights and catching passes, he still need to regain strength. Loveland said learning the Bears' playbook has been a bigger challenge than his rehab work so far.

Loveland (shoulder) said he expects to be fully healthy for the start of training camp late July, Chris Emma of 670 The Score reports.

Loveland has been held out from on-field work throughout Chicago's entire offseason as he continues to work his way back from shoulder surgery undergone late January, which carried a six-month recovery timetable. The rookie tight end said he's currently attacking the final hurdle of his recovery -- regaining strength in his shoulder -- and that he's already able to participate in certain activities like running and catching. Bears coach Ben Johnson noted that Loveland will have catching up to do in training camp, and that he's already missed "valuable time" to build chemistry and earn the coaching staff's trust. Chicago knew the details of Loveland's recovery timetable when making the decision to draft him at No. 10 overall, meaning there are no long-term concerns about his current absence, but it could make things more difficult for the 21-year-old to overtake incumbent starting tight end Cole Kmet.

Loveland (shoulder) is present for Thursday's practice at OTAs but is not participating, Kevin Fishbain and Adam Jahns of The Athletic report.

Loveland remains sidelined due to the shoulder injury he underwent in january to address a right Type V AC Joint dislocation. The injury prevented him from working out at the combine and participating in rookie minicamp, so the next major checkpoint for Loveland's recovery will be mandatory minicamp from June 3-5, at which time he's been expected to increase his participation level. All expectations remain that the rookie No. 10 overall pick will be a full-go for training camp. Once healthy, Loveland's draft capital and rare pass-catching ability should allow him to quickly emerge as one of Chicago's top targets, though it's difficult to project exactly how looks from Caleb Williams (wrist) will be distributed between him, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden (undisclosed).

Loveland (shoulder) is not participating in on-field work at rookie minicamp Friday as he continues to rehab from surgery undergone in January, Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Loveland, the 10th overall pick of April's draft, is present at rookie minicamp and building familiarity with Chicago's offensive scheme and new quarterback Caleb Williams (wrist), but the tight end's workout availability is currently limited to running and controlled lifting, per Bair. The rookie first-rounder is expected to be ready for increased participation in mandatory minicamp early June and to be fully cleared for training camp in July. Loveland is a capable blocker at 6-foot-6, 260-pounds, but he figures to make his largest impact as a mismatch in the receiving game, though DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and rookie second-round pick Luther Burden represent crowded competition for targets. Cole Kmet played 87 percent of snaps last season and has two years remaining on the four-year, $50 million deal he inked with Chicago in 2023, but Loveland boasts the draft capital and skillset to push for the No. 1 role before long.

The Bears selected Loveland (shoulder) in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 10th overall.

Loveland becomes the first tight end off the board and the highest drafted tight end since the Falcons took Kyle Pitts fourth overall in 2021. The Michigan product is a nice fit in Chicago. He is a complete player at the position, with an ability to make plays in the passing game while also contributing in-line on blocking assignments. Loveland's stats aren't as gaudy as fellow first-round tight end prospect Tyler Warren's, but that's why context matters. Penn State made Warren the focal point of its passing attack, while Michigan did not have the passing game in place in 2024 to get much production out of Loveland, who finished his junior season with 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games. Cole Kmet is still on the roster, but the Bears using the 10th overall pick on Loveland is a sign that he is going to be involved early and often. Loveland can become a reliable option up the seam for Caleb Williams, though he'll have plenty of competition for targets with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze command