Ahead of a Monday night home game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland has exactly one catch on five targets for a grand total of three yards. Let that sink in. For a guy everyone thought would be a slam-dunk TE1 coming into 2026, an offensive weapon the Bears would just funnel everything through, that’s just… invisible. A complete non-factor so far, and it’s got a lot of people scratching their heads.
What Happened to the Breakout Star?
Remember last year? Loveland was a second-year pass-catcher who had an eye-opening rookie season, really finding his stride in the second half. The easy assumption was he’d just pick up right where he left off, ready to tear it up from Week 1. Nope. Instead, we’ve seen two duds in a row, leaving fantasy managers and Bears fans alike scrambling for answers. It’s totally understandable to be concerned after that kind of start, but we gotta put those two games in context before anyone completely bails on him.
The Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story
First off, Week 1 was a crazy one. The Bears’ offense absolutely exploded for 59 points against the Carolina Panthers. When Loveland wasn’t getting targeted, it was because literally everyone else was eating, racking up yards and touchdowns all over the place. The Bears didn’t even need to force the ball to him because their offense faced practically no resistance. Then came Week 2. Talk about a mess! A torrential downpour in Chicago, Brian Flores’ aggressive blitzing defense from Minnesota, and a fourth-quarter injury to Caleb Williams meant no Bears pass target was viable. Seriously, who can throw the ball consistently in that kind of rain? Even Justin Jefferson, one of the NFL’s top receivers, only managed three catches for 55 yards in that matchup. Loveland’s struggles were team-wide. Plus, the Bears have clearly been using him a lot more as an improved run-blocker for their dynamic running game, which is huge for his snap counts even if it doesn’t show up on the fantasy stat sheet.
The Path Forward for Chicago’s Tight End
So, what’s next? With Caleb Williams sidelined for a few weeks, expect the Bears’ backup quarterbacks to lean on Loveland as a trusted safety valve. That’s a classic move to help keep the offense in rhythm when your starting QB is out. Sure, Loveland would probably shine even brighter with Williams’ playmaking, but the smart money says he’s about to become the focal point we all expected. Hold the line, because it looks like that patience is going to pay off real soon.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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