The Bears head to Lambeau Field on Sunday for a Week 5 matchup with the Packers, and for once in recent memory Chicago goes in as the favorite. It’s another chapter in a rivalry that never needs extra seasoning, with the Bears trying to reclaim their place atop the NFC North while the Packers are simply trying to hang on.
That backdrop matters because Colston Loveland has already shown he can be part of the answer in these games. Last season, he did his share to help Chicago beat Green Bay, following a breakout outing against Cincinnati in Week 7, when he put up 118 yards, with two tense wins over the Packers.
This year, though, some Bears fans have been disappointed by what they’ve seen from Loveland. That reaction mostly comes from the standard he set as a rookie, when he finished the season with the most receiving yards on the Bears, even ahead of DJ Moore. But the numbers say he’s still moving in the right direction.
Through four games in 2025, Loveland had 5 catches on 9 targets for 54 yards, a 55% catch rate. Through four games in 2026, he’s up to 11 receptions on 18 targets and 91 total yards.
There’s also a case to be made that Ben Johnson has kept Loveland in reserve while leaning on other things that have worked, especially the Bears’ run game, which has been the best in the NFL so far.
Caleb Williams’ absence may be part of it too. Williams and Loveland built a noticeable connection late last season, and without Williams under center, Loveland simply has had fewer chances to be fed the ball.
At this point in the season, neither Williams nor Loveland has really hit top gear. But with plenty of football left, there’s still time for that duo to rediscover the rhythm they showed last year.
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Christian Watson is waiting next, and that matchup brings its own kind of pressure because Johnson has seen enough of the Packers wideout to know how difficult it can be to stay attached for four quarters. For a Bears defense trying to stabilize and for Johnson personally, this is the kind of game that can shift the conversation fast, either toward a reset in form or toward even more questions about what comes next. [Read more 🡒]