Colston Loveland DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is unsure if rookie first-round tight end Colston Loveland (shoulder) will be a full-go for the start of training camp at the end of July. After having surgery on his shoulder in January, Colston has been able to lift weights, run routes and catch passes, with his final hurdle being getting his strength and mobility fully back. In the meantime, he's getting lots of mental reps as he learns Chicago's playbook. The 21-year-old was the 10th overall pick in April's NFL draft and gives second-year quarterback Caleb Williams another pass-catching weapon alongside fellow TE Cole Kmet. While Loveland certainly has a higher fantasy ceiling than Kmet, Kmet's presence and Loveland's delay due to surgery could mean a slow start in his first NFL season. Fantasy managers in single-year leagues should definitely temper expectations.

Chicago Bears rookie first-round tight end Colston Loveland (shoulder) hasn't taken part in any of the team's offseason workouts to this point after undergoing shoulder surgery in late January, but he remains on track to be ready to practice with the team in training camp this summer. The 21-year-old is nearly five months into a six-month recovery timetable and has been limited to stretching and light work during mandatory minicamp this week. He can run routes and catch passes but the remaining hurdle is regaining strength in his shoulder. It's good news that Loveland should be ready for training camp, but he's already missed valuable reps, and it's fair to be skeptical about his role in head coach Ben Johnson's offense with Cole Kmet still in the fold. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues shouldn't overpay for immediate production. Loveland is the TE18 in RotoBaller's preseason rankings.

Chicago Bears rookie first-round tight end Colston Loveland (shoulder) was spotted in uniform during mandatory minicamp this week and could be getting closer to a return after having shoulder surgery, according to The Athletic's Adam Jahns. "I just knew the springtime here, he wasn't going to be available," head coach Ben Johnson said, "and at some point here in camp, we should get the green light." The 21-year-old 10th overall pick back in April has been around the team, but he's missing valuable on-field reps heading into his first NFL season. The Bears obviously like the Michigan product a lot, and the pass-catching TE becomes more attractive when paired with Johnson's offensive mind. There's a lot to like about Loveland long term, but it could be difficult for him to produce consistently with Cole Kmet still around. Losing development time this offseason is not a good start.