“I’m hopeful that he’s going to build off that performance last week,” Allen said. “I do think he gives us a little bit more in terms of the pass rush. He had a really nice rush on the sack fumble. For [his] first game out after being out for a long time, I think that gives us a foundation to build from.”
Tight end Colston Loveland’s breakout effort against the Bengals did not surprise offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. The rookie first-round pick caught six passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns—including a 58-yarder from Caleb Williams with :17 remaining that enabled the Bears to turn a 42-41 deficit into a thrilling 47-42 win.
“When he’s been out there, he is a consummate professional,” Doyle said. “I really enjoy being around him. He has really grasped the offense, and I think he just continues to get better. [Tight ends coach] Jim [Dray] has done a great job with him since he’s been here.
“I know [reporters] have asked about him, really every week, ‘When is he going to break out?’ I think that’s one of those things that it’s a guy doing a lot of work behind the scenes, and when his number is called, he’s ready for the moment, and he certainly was.”
While Loveland’s sensational 58-yard catch and run will rightfully garner more attention, his 5-yard TD reception from Williams in the third quarter was impressive as well.
“It was great,” Doyle said. “It’s a really tight window in there, great anticipation. It’s really the look we had been practicing all week … Loveland actually ran even a better route in the game than he did in practice, and so it was good to be able to see him take the corrections from practice and bring it into the game on Sunday. [It was] just a great hookup between those two guys and a big moment in the game for us.”