The Chicago Bears released their final injury report of the week on Friday, but they got an ominous update on Saturday, specifically regarding rookie tight end Colston Loveland.
The No. 10 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, it has been a slow start to the season for Loveland. His head coach, Ben Johnson, the rest of the coaching staff, and teammates continue to speak highly of him.
However, the injury is just the latest setback for the rookie.
Bears Get Bad News About Rookie TE Colston Loveland
Bears TE Colston Loveland Not Expected to Play vs Raiders
The Bears listed Loveland as questionable on Friday’s injury report after the youngster was able to log a limited practice following back-to-back days of inactivity. They followed that with a flurry of moves, including one that suggested Loveland could miss his first game of the season and his NFL career.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on X on September 27 that “Loveland is not expected to play Sunday vs. the Raiders due to his hip injury, per source.”
Schefter pointed to the Bears’ elevating tight end Stephen Carlson among their moves.
“The #Bears have signed LB Carl Jones Jr. to the active roster and elevated TE Stephen Carlson and DL Jonathan Ford from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders,” the Bears public relations team posted on X on September 26.
Bears Rookie Battling Durability Early in Career
Loveland entered the league with a shoulder injury that kept him off the practice field until training camp. That put him behind in terms of building chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams and learning the nuances of the NFL and differences from the college game.
Loveland acclimated himself well to the classroom, which made his process that much smoother when he finally got on the field for the Bears.
However, billed as a dynamic threat, he has three receptions for 43 yards through three games.
With three receptions for 43 yards and a 41% snap share, per Pro Football Reference, there has been plenty left to be desired from Loveland’s early going. Johnson has taken responsibility for that and for not getting Cole Kmet (4-70-1) more involved.
The Raiders have not surrendered much to tight ends this season, but they have not faced a team that threatens to highlight the position like the Bears do.
That remains the case, even with Loveland potentially sidelined.
Bears Shuffling Lineup Due to Injuries
Veteran Durham Smythe, a proficient blocker, will likely join Kmet when the Bears go with two tight ends on the field. Given they are also without starting right tackle Darnell Wright, that could happen often, so that they can keep one in to help whomever fills in on the o-line.
Either 2024 undrafted free agent Theo Benedet or 2025 second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo figures to replace Wright against the Raiders.
Conversely, Raiders tight end Brock Bowers looms large.
The Bears will not have linebacker T.J. Edwards to pair with Tremaine Edmunds, and Grady Jarrett will be absent from the defensive line. Chicago has surrendered the third-most receptions, but just the 13th-most yards, to the tight end position entering Sunday.
Unlike the Raiders and Kmet, they have already faced multiple high-end threats at the tight end spot. Whether that experience helps them in this game remains to be seen.