Caleb Williams marched the Bears 61 yards in 1:22 Friday, capping the drive with a 14-yard touchdown to Colston Loveland with 15 seconds left on the clock. It was the signature moment of Chicago’s first open training camp practice of 2026, and it came from the pairing that’s dominated camp headlines through three sessions at Halas Hall.
Bears coach Ben Johnson had a specific reason for putting his offense through that drill. The team struggled in end-of-half situations a year ago, even while closing out games well. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Johnson wanted to see how his unit would respond, and the response was a scripted, sharp final drive that ended with Williams finding Loveland wide open on a seam route.
“We were not good two-minute, end-of-half,” Johnson said. “We weren’t very good in the second quarter in general. We didn’t score as many points as the other quarters. We gave up more points in that quarter as well.”
.@CALEBcsw threading the needle to @colstonlovelan1 🪡 pic.twitter.com/aRltkJg0GJ
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) July 31, 2026
The touchdown capped a day where Loveland was Williams’ clear top target. Over the final two-minute period with the first-team offense, the two connected four times, with Loveland hauling in three of those four passes. ESPN reported the touchdown came on a tight-window throw, and Loveland lined up out wide to Williams’ left before running the seam between cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and safety Coby Bryant to get open.
It wasn’t Loveland’s only touchdown of the day. He and Williams also connected for a score during an earlier red-zone period, though Loveland dropped a touchdown at another point in practice — making the late two-minute score a bounce-back moment for both the tight end and his quarterback, who’d thrown his first interception of camp earlier in the session when cornerback Jaylon Johnson jumped a route in 7-on-7 work.
Second-Year Chemistry Building Early
The connection between Williams and Loveland isn’t new, but it’s growing at a notable pace. Loveland, Chicago’s first-round pick in 2025 out of Michigan, led the Bears in receiving as a rookie. Earlier in camp, Williams made clear how much he expects from his tight end this season.
“He can become the best tight end in the league,” Williams said, according to the Bears’ official team site. “I think he is, but stats and us going out there and proving it is what it is going to take. To be able to do that, we’ve got to put in work. We’ve got to build a connection, hang out inside and outside the building, have tough conversations or have open communication throughout the year and throughout camp.”
Friday marked the first practice open to fans this camp, adding energy to a session that already had plenty riding on it. Longtime Bears reporter Patrick Finley captured the moment on X, though no photographers were permitted for the play itself:
Patrick Finley posted on X: “Best thing I saw at #Bears practice today was Colston Loveland’s TD catch in the two-minute drill.” —
Best thing I saw at #Bears practice today was Colston Loveland’s TD catch in the two-minute drill. No photos for reporters so .. pic.twitter.com/dsweAuJZC9
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) July 31, 2026
The Bears’ own social team also highlighted the growing rapport, posting practice video of Williams delivering an accurate throw to Loveland downfield.
Building Depth Around Williams
Loveland wasn’t the only pass-catcher who stood out. Rome Odunze caught back-to-back deep balls during the first 11-on-11 session and added a one-handed grab later in practice. Odunze has said he’s fully past the foot issue that limited him late last season and is targeting 1,000 yards, 100 catches and double-digit touchdowns in 2026 — an ambitious bar given the target competition now surrounding him with Loveland and second-year receiver Luther Burden III both pushing for volume.
“Honestly, it’s not even really something that I think about anymore, which I think is the best thing I think you can have after an injury,” Odunze said of the foot, per ESPN.
Three or more comparable data points from the two-minute drill make the sequence worth laying out:
| Play | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st pass to Loveland | Short gain | Right side of the field |
| 2nd pass to Loveland | Minimal gain | Middle of the field |
| 3rd pass (play-action) | Catch-and-run | Down the left sideline |
| 4th pass (drive-ending) | 14-yard touchdown | Seam route, 15 seconds left |
Elsewhere Friday, the Bears’ left tackle competition remained unsettled. Kiran Amegadjie took the bulk of first-team reps, with Braxton Jones working behind him and Jedrick Wills rotating in as well — a battle that’s expected to continue deep into camp. Running back Kyle Monangai missed his second straight practice, though the team hasn’t disclosed why.
The Bears return to the field Saturday at 8:30 a.m. for their fourth practice of camp.
