Where has Bears TE Colston Loveland been this season?

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  Courtney CroninSep 28, 2026, 06:00 AM ET

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  Courtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever and GameNight on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.

The day before the Chicago Bears hosted the Minnesota Vikings in their home opener Sept. 20, The Wiener's Circle -- a famous Chicago hot dog stand -- offered free dogs if Bears tight end Colston Loveland scored two touchdowns.

Bears fans were unable to cash in as Loveland finished with just one catch -- not a TD -- for 3 yards. Fantasy managers also have been unable to cash in with Loveland, who was the No. 3 tight end drafted -- after the Arizona Cardinals' Trey McBride and the Las Vegas Raiders' Brock Bowers -- but is being started in only 48% of ESPN leagues heading into Monday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN).

Loveland's 3-yard catch in the 9-3 loss to the Vikings was his only reception on five targets this season, and that includes a 59-37 win against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. That's not what was expected from last year's No. 10 overall pick out of Michigan who led the NFC North champs with 713 receiving yards and 58 receptions.

"Everyone in here wants the ball," Loveland said. "We're here for a reason, and we want to make plays and help our team win.

"But there's other ways to make plays on the ground in the run game. I'm just doing what I'm asked. There's going to be opportunities, so I've just got to take full advantage when it arises."

Could those opportunities come against the Eagles? Philadelphia's defense has allowed the third-fewest receptions (six) and second-fewest receiving yards (42) and is tied for the third-fewest targets faced against tight ends (nine) after wins against the Washington Commanders and Tennessee Titans.

"It's kind of a bit of a chess match knowing he's a guy that can take off at any moment because that's what he did last year," Eagles linebacker Chance Campbell said.

Loveland averaged 597 receiving yards over his final 10 games last season. He was a favorite target of Caleb Williams, but the quarterback will be inactive Monday night because of a hamstring injury. Case Keenum will start.

Keenum threw Loveland his first TD of a training camp that served as a daily highlight reel for the tight end. The offseason seemed to foreshadow another season of high usage in coach Ben Johnson's offense.

Instead, it has been just the opposite.

Loveland's disappearance is multifaceted. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor and Johnson are adamant Loveland is built into the game plan, often as the primary receiver. The ball just has yet to find him.

Loveland has been on the field for 86.6% of the Bears' offensive snaps through two games -- the highest of any offensive player other than Williams or a lineman.

"We had plenty of opportunities against Carolina, just couldn't quite feed them the way we wanted to," Johnson said.

Against a Vikings defense that sent a blitz at Williams on 78% of his dropbacks, Loveland and other tight ends were called on to max protect on a rainy afternoon when wet conditions affected the passing game.

"All of our pass catchers, all of our skill players, everybody that we're anticipating to be active, has plays on that game plan," Johnson said. "Some more than others, but we're actively looking to get everybody involved."

Another reason behind Loveland's lack of production is the way defenses are playing him. According to NFL NextGen Stats, Loveland has faced double coverage on 7% of his routes, which is the highest rate in the NFL regardless of position with a minimum of 40 routes. While he has been targeted only five times, Loveland is averaging significantly less separation, down from 3.7 yards of separation on his targets in 2025 to 2.1.

"Obviously I want the rock and I want to go make a play for the team," Loveland said, "but as long as I'm doing what I'm asked and I'm getting open, I feel like there's times I'm open on tape, it's just kind of not finding me.

"Which is how it is, whether it's pressure or whatever. Things just aren't clicking, but it's going to come at some point."

It's not that Loveland hasn't made an impact this season. Late in the third quarter against Carolina, despite not getting any targets in the first half, he stayed focused. On one of D'Andre Swift's TD runs, Loveland blocked Jaelan Phillips and drove him into the ground.

"When you've gone through three quarters and you have no touches so far and you continue to fight and continue to help others get in the end zone ... you wouldn't have known if he had 10 catches or zero catches at the end of the game in the locker room from the way he was, as excited as he is for the offensive success," Taylor said.

This is nothing new for Loveland, who battled a slow start as a rookie. It wasn't until Week 8 when he reached the end zone, scoring two touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals on a day when he hauled in six catches for 118 yards.

"I don't think he's a guy who's begging for touches or anything like that," Eagles safety Michael Carter II said. "When he gets the ball in his hands, he's dangerous. ... I'm sure he'll get his touches eventually but hopefully not against us."

ESPN Eagles reporter Tim McManus contributed to this report.