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Colston Loveland Injury Recovery Update: Bears Rookie Nears Camp Return

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Prince Horton | Last updated Jul 14, 2025 9:46 AM ET

Bears rookie tight end returned to Michigan for a youth camp, offering a glimpse at his recovery progress.

Before Colston Loveland begins his NFL journey with the Chicago Bears, he’s been working through the final stages of recovery from a serious shoulder injury. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft was sidelined after suffering a Type V AC joint dislocation in his right shoulder during the 2024 season at the University of Michigan—a painful separation that typically requires surgery and a four to six month recovery timeline. Recently, Loveland made a few comments that hinted at how his recovery is coming along.

Over the weekend, the former Wolverine returned to Ann Arbor to help host a FlexWork youth football camp at Father Gabriel Richard High School, as reported by MLive.com. The event gave fans and kids a close-up look at the standout tight end—and also offered a subtle glimpse into his physical condition.

Loveland didn’t hold back, actively participating in drills, running routes, and even tossing the football—albeit with his non-throwing arm.

'It’s been good. There haven’t really been live bullets flying yet,' Loveland told reporters. 'We’ll really know in camp once I get out there, doing a lot more stuff.' His measured tone suggests he's cautiously optimistic—he's been active in controlled settings, but knows the real test will come with full-speed drills, blocking assignments, and live contact. Whether he’s fully cleared for contact or simply ramping up remains to be seen, but camp will reveal where he truly stands.

As he prepares for Bears training camp, Loveland enters a promising offensive environment under new head coach Ben Johnson. Known for creative, tight end-friendly schemes, Johnson is expected to run plenty of 12 personnel—giving Loveland the chance to line up alongside veteran Cole Kmet. If his recovery stays on track, Loveland could quickly become a key piece in Chicago’s evolving offense.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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