Colston Loveland was an unknown throughout the spring and early summer, having been unable to practice due to recovering from shoulder surgery. People weren't sure what to expect once he finally returned at the start of training camp. Then, on his very first team drill rep, he made a slick cut on a route to get open for a big catch. It generated some excitement at Halas Hall. For someone who hadn't played in months, he looked like he'd never left the field. Still, that was done in shorts with no pads on. It might be wise to temper expectations a little.
Or not.
Pads went on for the first time on Monday under brutally humid conditions. None of that seemed to matter to Loveland, who again created matchup problems for the defense. He was a constant presence in the passing game, making good catches and showcasing that rare mix of size and speed. The guy looked like a top 10 pick should. Again, he's doing this with little ramp-up time after missing months of football activities. If he's this effective already, just imagine what he'll be like when the rust gets knocked off.
Colston Loveland might be the spark the Bears were missing.
For the past few years, it has felt that while GM Ryan Poles has managed to find good players in every draft, he still hasn't landed a great one. You need around 3-4 great players to win a championship in this league. Most, if not all of them, should come from the draft. It feels like they may have finally landed one. Yes, it's early, but the buzz is unmistakable. Great players tend to announce their presence right away in the NFL. For Colston Loveland to look the part already should tell you lots about his ability. Rome Odunze is also starting to assert himself. This offense is suddenly full of young talent that can turn it into one of the NFL's best. Having Ben Johnson as the puppeteer for it all should scare people.
