‘Priority’: Chicago Bears coach worried about rookie’s health during OTAs

On Friday, the Chicago Bears started practice with their new draftees during rookie minicamp. The Bears’ coaching staff has three practices to get their young players up to speed before they work on the field with veterans on May 20.

The Bears’ first-round pick, Colston Loveland, will not be going head-to-head against defenders during OTAs this spring. He’s recovering from the shoulder surgery he had on Jan. 29 to repair an AC joint dislocation he suffered last season at Michigan, causing him to miss the final two games of the Wolverines’ season.

Loveland will be busy this spring learning the terminology of the offense and his assignments in the field by taking mental reps. He hopes to return to full contact around the start of training camp.

Colston Loveland’s health is the Chicago Bears’ No. 1 worry

Head coach Ben Johnson told the media after practice that Loveland’s health was a “priority” for the Bears.

“It’s a matter of meeting, watching the tape, walking through, particularly a guy like Colston right now that, you know, little dinged up still, and so we’re rehabbing him,” Johnson said. “And then that’s a priority for us, is getting him back healthy, because the sooner he gets healthy, then we get the full speed reps, and that’s where it really all comes together.

“So it’s more mental, and we’re going to take full opportunity the time we have with him over the next, call it six weeks, in terms of getting him up to speed with not only what the veterans know mentally, but how much can we walk through with him on the side to speed up the learning process.”

The Bears can rely on Cole Kmet until Loveland is ready

Loveland can only learn so much by taking mental reps during OTAs.

Tight end is a complex position for a rookie to learn in the NFL because he has to understand his many responsibilities as a route runner and as a blocker. Being able to complete those duties on the field against an opponent in real time cannot be replicated by taking mental reps in practice.

Fortunately, the Bears have a veteran tight end on the roster until Loveland gets up to speed this summer/fall in Cole Kmet.

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