The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1541451
62 THE WOLVERINE ❱ DECEMBER 2025 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE F ormer Michigan tight end Colston Loveland had a slow start to his rookie campaign but is on a tear at the right time for the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears, who are 7-3 and winners of three straight and six of their last seven games. His breakout games have coincided with the Bears' resurgence and emergence as contenders for the divisional crown. In his last five games, the 6-foot-6, 241-pounder has reeled in 19 receptions for 275 yards and 2 touchdowns. One week after scoring 2 touchdowns, including the game-winner, in a 47-42 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, Loveland hauled in 4 grabs for 55 yards in a 24-20 comeback win over the New York Giants. The fol- lowing week versus Minnesota, he had a big 24-yard catch on third-and-13 in the fourth quarter as the Bears were clinging to a tight lead that they wound up giving up but getting back to win at the buzzer. His 58-yard touchdown against the Bengals is the longest game-winning re- ception by an NFL tight end since 2015 and the third-longest in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime by any rookie since at least 1970. He finished the game with 6 catches for 118 yards, joining Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1961) as the only Bears rookie tight end to have 100 yards and multiple touchdown catches in a game. "He came through for us, and it really wasn't the first week that he's done that," head coach Ben Johnson said. "The ball has tended to find his hands. He's that type of guy. When he's called upon, he's going to answer it. And the bigger the mo- ment, he's going to rise to the occasion." The No. 10 overall pick and the highest- drafted tight end this year, Loveland now ranks fourth at his position with 329 re- ceiving yards on 24 receptions, behind Indianapolis' Tyler Warren (617), the Los Angeles Chargers' Oronde Gadsden II (507) and Cleveland's Harold Fannin Jr. (422). FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NFL Through Nov. 17 • AJ Barner (2023), TE, Seattle Seahawks: Hauled in 31 receptions — 1 more than his total as a rookie in 2024 — for 306 yards and 4 touchdowns while opening all 10 games for the 7-3 Seahawks … Posted a career-best 10 grabs for 70 yards in a 21-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams Nov. 16. • Ben Bredeson (2016-19), OG, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Opened all nine outings in which he's appeared for the 6-4 Buccaneers, six at left guard and three at center … Posted a 49.9 overall Pro Football Focus rating. • Devin Bush (2016-18), LB, Cleveland Browns: Tallied 66 tackles, 5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 inter- ception that was returned for a touchdown, 5 pass breakups and a forced fumble in 10 starts for the 2-8 Browns. • Zach Charbonnet (2019-20), RB, Seattle Seahawks: Rushed 105 times for 350 yards (3.3 yards per carry) and 6 touchdowns with ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Colston Loveland Is Heating Up In Chicago Loveland, a first-round pick last spring, has reeled in 19 receptions for 275 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Chicago Bears' last five games. He also joined Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1961) as the Bears' only rookie tight ends ever to have 100 yards and multiple touchdown catches in a game. PHOTO COURTESY DONRUSS