Heading into the 2026 NFL season, there were high expectations for the Chicago Bears’ tight end room.
With second-year player Colston Loveland, veteran Cole Kmet, and rookie third-round draft pick Sam Roush, head coach Ben Johnson has been given plenty of options and flexibility to utilize each player’s respective talents.
Bears need to use their tight ends more often in the offense
Although Johnson has the players, it hasn’t translated into impactful receiving production through the first five games of the 2026 NFL season. According to Radar360, the Bears rank 22nd in the NFL with 199 receiving yards from their tight ends. Kmet’s touchdown in Week 1 leaves the Bears tied with four other teams for the second-fewest tight end touchdowns in the league, behind four teams with zero.
Several factors contributed to the underwhelming results. The most obvious is the quarterback position. Caleb Williams hasn’t played since the Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings because of a Grade 2 hamstring injury. Since then, Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent have had opportunities running Johnson’s offense.
The Bears desperately need stability at quarterback. Williams’ status is still up in the air, but NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport says he’s trending toward playing this week.
In the 31-7 blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 5, Loveland had a few opportunities that ended in negative results. On Bagent’s first sack of the game, Loveland had a chance to hit for a big gain, but the Bears’ quarterback turned the route down and eventually lost his footing, resulting in an 11-yard loss.
Getting into this Bears All-22.
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) October 12, 2026
On the first drive of the game when Tyson Bagent is sacked for an 11-yard loss, looks like there is an opportunity to get Colston Loveland the ball for a short completion on 2nd & 9. Looks like Bagent was looking for Rome Odunze to get open on the… pic.twitter.com/6FdAnWuozD
On Bagent's first interception of the game, he tries to fit a ball to wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second level of the defense, but Loveland is open on a drag route after he chip-blocks the defensive end. The Bears had opportunities to get one of their top pass-catchers involved, but the execution wasn't there.
The Bears' tight ends haven't produced in the receiving game as much as many expected at this point, but Kmet and Loveland have been efficient in run blocking. Using Pro Football Focus data, the Bears' tight ends are all above-average run blockers, with Kmet among the best in the league.
How many snaps TEs have run blocked and their grade on those plays pic.twitter.com/nPcRSYsVRa
— Jrfortgang (@throwthedamball) October 14, 2026
What's alarming, though, is seeing how many run-blocking snaps Loveland has had so far- more than any tight end in the league. He's talented, but Loveland can have more impact in the passing game if he gets more opportunities.
Read more: Marshawn Lloyd's hit on Jaylon Johnson in Week 5 gave Bears a brutal reminder
The Bears need to get their offense back on track, and getting the tight ends more involved in the passing game would be a good place for them to start.
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