As far as Chicago Bears breakout candidates go in 2026, one would be hard-pressed to find a more logical choice than Colston Loveland. And if you're in the camp that thinks that the second-year tight end is primed to ascend toward the top of the position's ranks before season's end, you have company in linebacker Devin Bush.
Bush signed a three-year deal with the Bears this offseason and figures to be a centerpiece of the defense in the wake of Tremaine Edmunds' departure. A benefit of manning the second level in this particular defense is the chance to routinely match up against Loveland in practice. As such, there's a real first-person perspective when it comes to projecting Year 2 of Colston Loveland for the Bears, and Bush should be counted
among those who think he's primed for big things ahead of the new season.
"Man, he’s one of those guys, he has a way of just catching that ball, dawg," Bush said. "…He’s really good at tracking the ball, he’s really good at stemming his routes and getting to his points and like I said, bringing that ball in. He has a huge catch radius. Obviously his athleticism is just a bonus with how he’s structured and how he’s built. He’s a really tough cover."
Slowed upon his selection at no. 10 in the 2025 NFL Draft following shoulder surgery that January, it took Loveland a bit to find his footing in the Bears' offense. Once he did, though, the numbers shot up across the board. After just 11 receptions spread across his first six games, Loveland exploded in November before going on to catch 47 balls across his last 10. Each trait noted by Bush was completely on display as Loveland emerged as a genuine safety net for quarterback Caleb Williams.
It's that very skill set that has the arrow pointing up on Loveland for 2026. His unique athleticism for the position combined with the factors that Bush noted — the catch radius, his route-running, and the simple-but-important matter of his hands — should all compound in a meaningful way to support an ascension in the upcoming season.
The eye test and steady progression from box score to box score last season already supported such an emergence, but the endorsement of a player against which he's lining up in practice each day is further evidence of the potential for a stellar campaign.
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Devin Bush on what it's like going against Bears TE Colston Loveland
