Colston Loveland, the tight end who was an absolute force for the Bears last season, has only one catch for a measly three yards through two games in 2026. This isn’t just a slow start; it's a total head-scratcher for anyone who watched him close out his rookie year.
What The Heck Happened To His Production?
Just one catch? Three yards? It's almost unbelievable, especially for a guy who was easily one of the league's top tight ends in yards per route last year, ranking fourth overall. Remember how he ended his debut season? He racked up 28 catches, 378 yards, and two touchdowns in the final four games alone! That's star-level production. Now, he's sitting 76th among all tight ends in receiving yards, even after the Bears exploded for 59 points in their season opener. How does a team drop 59 and their star tight end has *zero* catches in that game? It just doesn't add up. He went without a single catch in Week 1, and then in Week 2, when the entire team mustered just three points, he had a quiet performance too.
Why Is The Former Top-10 Pick Disappearing?
So what gives? Loveland's got only five targets so far, which ranks 31st among tight ends. Five targets! This is a player who saw 10 or more targets in the final two regular season games of 2025 AND both playoff contests. That kind of drop-off screams a problem, and it looks like it's a twofold issue. First, Loveland isn't generating the separation he did as a rookie, dropping from an average of 3.7 yards to just 2.1 yards in the first two weeks this year. It feels like defenses had all offseason to dial up their coverage schemes specifically for him, and they're keying in. But here's the kicker: even when he *does* break free, quarterback Caleb Williams often isn't looking his way. Against both the Panthers and Vikings, Williams was either locking onto another receiver, scrambling, or already in a pass rusher's arms when Loveland found open space.
Shifting Roles and What's Next
It's not like the Bears have completely abandoned Loveland as a route-runner, but they did use him in a significantly different way against Brian Flores' tough Minnesota defense in Week 2. He took on one of the largest pass-blocking roles of his entire career, with his pass-blocking rate higher than at any point in the second half of last season. That's a shift for a guy known for his receiving prowess. Entering Week 3, the big question is whether Loveland can turn it around and start looking like the dominant force he was last season. If he can't get more separation, or if Williams can't find him when he does, this slow start might become a season-long trend.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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