Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson has praise for key offensive contributor

The Chicago Bears selected Colston Loveland in the first round of last spring’s NFL Draft in hopes he would develop into the league’s next elite tight end, and the former Michigan standout is well on his way.

Loveland, picked No. 10 overall by the Bears, is quickly developing a strong rapport with Caleb Williams, and, in relative lockstep with fellow first-round tight end Tyler Warren as one of the most dangerous players at the position after the catch in the sport.

Through his first nine games, Loveland has caught 24 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns, while averaging 13.7 yards per catch, with a two-touchdown outburst on his ledger from the Bears’ thrilling overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

However, Loveland isn’t the only productive tight end on the Bears’ roster.

Ben Johnson praises Chicago Bears’ Cole Kmet

Even with Loveland’s arrival and emergence as one of Williams’ favorite targets, veteran tight end Cole Kmet is still carving out a niche for himself in the Bears’ offense and within head coach Ben Johnson’s scheme.

“I thought Cole played one of his best games he has so far this year,” Johnson recently told reporters. “I get he caught a couple more balls, but I’m not even talking about that. He’s great in the running game and then pass pro we put him in some tough matchups there on some of their defensive end or outside linebacker types, and I thought he did an outstanding job throughout that. When he was a ball carrier, you felt his presence out there. He was lowering his shoulder, he was stiff-arming. He brought our sideline to life a couple of times.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matt Lombardo (@mattlombardonfl)

Kmet’s prowess as a run-blocker is always going to keep him on the field, but Sunday afternoon’s season-high five catches for 45 yards, including a 14-yard catch and run could be a turning point in his season as a pass-catcher in Williams’ supporting cast.

So far this season, Kmet has caught 16 passes for 192 yards, and one touchdown, scored in a Week 3 blowout victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

Particularly if the Bears continue deploying two-tight end sets, and he continues to build his chemistry with Williams, Kmet could remain a vital piece of the puzzle on offense for Chicago down the stretch, and maybe beyond.

The post Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson has praise for key offensive contributor appeared first on ChiCitySports.