Bears rookie TE Colston Loveland caps off his breakout performance with yet another accolade that puts him in rare company
Another Offensive Player of the Week honor is heading to Chicago.
The long awaited breakout the Chicago Bears were waiting all season for finally arrived in Week 9 when rookie first-round tight end Colston Loveland exploded against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Loveland set single-game career highs across the board with seven targets for six receptions, 118 yards, and two touchdowns in Week 9, including the walk-off touchdown on a 58-yard catch and run to seal the team’s victory.
Loveland became the first Bears rookie tight end to total 100+ yards and multiple touchdowns since the Hall of Fame legend Mike Ditka and now he’s received another accolade that puts him in even more rare company.
Colston Loveland named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after Week 9 breakout
On Wednesday, Loveland was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week, notably beating out his own quarterback Caleb Williams (who totaled four touchdowns in Week 9) and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (who had four passing touchdowns on Sunday night).
How rare is it for a rookie tight to win the award? Loveland is just the third one to receive the honor joining Mike Dyal from the Raiders (1989) and Jeremy Shockey from the Giants (2002). He’s also the third Bears rookie to do so, joining running backs Anthony Thomas (2001) and Jordan Howard (2016), according to the team’s official website.
He’s also the second Bears’ offensive player to earn the honor joining Williams, who was named Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 3.
“You just got a little glimpse of what he’s capable of doing,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson said of his rookie tight end, via his Monday interview on ESPN Chicago. “We gotta get the ball in his hands just a little more than have here the first-half of the season. We’ll continue to look for ways to do that. . .
“Wasn’t surprised at all. That’s who we thought we acquired when we drafted him. He’s been everything that we thought he was going to be and some.”
More opportunities are set up perfectly for Loveland to follow up that kind of performance in Week 10 against the New York Giants after veteran tight end Cole Kmet left the Week 9 win early with a concussion. Loveland rose up to the moment last week and is expected to do so once again.
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