Within the Chicago Bears' tight end room, there is a lot of attention on Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, and rookie Sam Roush.
During the 27-9 preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Roush had a nice performance in the passing game, catching two passes for 30 yards. His biggest play of the game was a 26-yard completion to end the first quarter.
That play doesn't happen, though, if one key moment doesn't happen within the play. It was also made by a rookie tight end who is trying to make the 53-man roster.
Bears rookie tight end Hayden Large gaining some attention in preseason
During the play, Bears fans can see rookie Hayden Large out in front of Roush, making a critical block to add some extra yards to the end of the play. It didn't go unnoticed, though, as former Bears fullback Jason McKie commented on it on X.
"So we are not going to talk about my guy HAYDEN LARGE with the Hustle and Waffle House Pancake block to get Roush a few more yards! !! I see ya big Fella!!!"
Large was an undrafted rookie out of Iowa, a school very well known for producing some great blocking tight ends. He hasn't been a guy known for being a receiving tight end, but as a blocker, he could find a role on the Bears. During his career with the Hawkeyes, he caught 14 passes for 89 yards
Head coach Ben Johnson is looking to run more 13-personnel with three tight ends on the field. That has led some to believe the Bears could end up carrying four tight ends, or at least have one on the practice squad.
The Bears know that Loveland, Kmet, and Roush are going to be the top tight ends making the team. Large has to compete with Stephen Carlson and Qadir Ismail for a potential fourth spot or a practice squad spot in 2026.
It would be a hard hill to climb for Large to try to make the 53-man roster, but he is showing enough effort to consider it. To go down that field that quickly to make a key block is the kind of gritty player Johnson wants.
Read more: Bears face a lose-lose situation at one position (but not the reason fans think)
Large has one more game to prove that he can make the team and has the skills needed to do so. He could be a sleeper pick to sneak onto the roster.
Add us as a preferred source on Google