Draft picks' return looking good for start of Bears camp

The old "mental reps" had to stand for his OTAs.

"It's definitely the playbook," Loveland said. "I obviously got to take care of things physically. But mentally, it’s a lot."

He feels he has a strong grasp of what's been done with the offense to date.

"It’s one thing to know it but to go out there and do it in real time, it’s the walk-through reps, the mental reps," he said. "I've got to say, those are huge and crucial."

While Johnson couldn't say for sure if Loveland will be ready by the start of camp, he was fairly certain the mental work and some of the footwork Loveland worked at individually will pay off when they do start.

"I would say I think what I can gather from the walkthroughs, from the meetings, is he’s very professional," Johnson said. "He takes everything seriously.

"I think he’s going to fit in really well once we start getting him to go full speed. I know coach Dray’s said to me numerous times how impressed he is for the types of questions he’s asking at his young age.”

Loveland plays a position where he'll be able to work his way in because there are other options ready in case it takes a while longer. Cole Kmet, Durham Smythe and Kyle Wilson could handle it if the No. 1 pick needs more rehab time.

"Yeah, obviously I’m a competitor, I want to be out there," he said. "But just doing what I can. Like I said, just continuing to work."

The work over the next six weeks will need to be on his own, or at least without fellow pro football players.

"Definitely will have my own little walk-throughs, whether I need to get my brothers or whoever that is, seeing some plays, lining up, just doing stuff repetitive, getting those reps and it comes second nature at that point," he said. "So, that’s the goal."