For Bears' rookies, 'whenever our name’s called, age doesn’t matter'

Chicago Bears’ Colston Loveland celebrates his touchdown catch with Kyle Monangai during the first half of an NFL football game the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) ORG XMIT: CAFRA703Scott Strazzante/AP Photos

Bears tight end Colston Loveland can’t pinpoint the exact day, but he figures it was sometime in November. He had played enough NFL games to know what was expected of him — and understood his coaches’ warnings that the most important part of the season was just getting started.

“Everyone’s saying, ‘This is when real ball starts,’” he said Thursday. “That’s when you stop being a rookie. Around then is…