Bears News: Loveland leans on Cole Kmet during injury rehab

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 6 hours ago

CHICAGO - When you are a rookie and cannot practice because of an injury, it can be difficult to learn the offense and be up to speed.

However, rookie tight end Colston Loveland is doing what he can to build chemistry with his teammates while recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent back in January.

“Just taking each day at a time, just keeping my feet where they are and attacking each thing, whether that’s meeting, working out. I feel like the camaraderie and relationships with the guys and the whole team, staff as a whole has been really good,” Loveland said. “So, we get to connect and just build those relationships. We’re all in the same mindset. We’re all headed to one goal. So, a lot of like-minded individuals in this building and it’s good to feel that and know that. We’re really just focused on working, trying to get back ASAP.”

In the meantime, Loveland is learning the playbook. With a detail-oriented head coach like Ben Johnson, Loveland will need to utilize its knowledge of the playbook to get on the field this season.

His teammates are also helping him by being there to answer any questions he has.

“Obviously, got to take care of everything physically. But, mentally, it’s a lot … Just really diving into that playbook. It’s one thing to know it, then to go out there and do it in real time,” Loveland said. “So, it’s just the walkthrough reps, the mental reps. Those are huge and crucial, and it’s just my teammates around me doing a great job. Any questions, they’re very coachable and it goes both ways. So, it’s been great.”

Going into the NFL Draft, tight end did not seem to be high on the priority list. Chicago needed to improve their defense. They could have used a running back. Another offensive lineman certainly could not have hurt.

While they would address those needs in later rounds, the Bears chose to use their first-round pick on a tight end, despite having a talented one in Cole Kmet. However, head coach Ben Johnson’s offensive scheme usually utilizes two tight ends. Thus, it makes sense for Chicago to draft one.

Loveland said all of the tight ends in the room have been helpful, but Kmet has certainly stood out as a mentor to him.

“All the tight ends have been super helpful. But, Cole, that’s a vet right there, does everything the right way. Really good at football. Really good mentally, really good physically. So, it’s a great guy that I can look up to, and he’s been very coachable,” Loveland said. “He’ll tell me some things, how he sees it, some coverage things or whatever that may be. So, he’s been super helpful and I’m very appreciative.”

Loveland’s surgery took place at the end of January. Thus, it is unclear if he will be ready for the start of training camp in July. Training camp will be his first opportunity to show Bears fans why he was worth a first-round pick.

In college, he played three years for the University of Michigan. Loveland finished his career with 117 receptions for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. Nine of those touchdowns came in his final two seasons with the Wolverines.

In 2023, he won the National Championship in Jim Harbaugh’s final season as their head coach before becoming the head coach with the Los Angeles Chargers.