Tag: Bears tight end

TE Marcedes Lewis officially re-signs with Bears on 1-year deal

The man known as “Big Dog” is back in Chicago.

Marcedes Lewis is officially back in the navy and orange.

The 40-year-old tight end re-signed with the Chicago Bears on Monday, agreeing to a one-year deal. The signing came just one day after reports surfaced from FOX NFL insider Jay Glazer that the two sides would meet to discuss a deal.

Lewis joined the Bears last summer on a one-year-deal as a veteran leader on a young team. He came into the league in 2006 as a Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick, and spent five years with the Green Bay Packers. Despite his age, Lewis showed he’s still considered one of the top blockers in the league, playing an important role as the team’s extra lineman on many different plays. His 77.1 PFF run-blocking grade was fifth among tight ends. Lewis also caught four catches for 29 yards and a touchdown.

Now, Lewis is back, but with new faces in key positions. Gone are his former offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and teammate Robert Tonyan, both of whom were instrumental in bringing him to Chicago, as well as quarterback Justin Fields, who was traded in the offseason.

Now, he joins an offense led by offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Lewis will also reunite with tight end Cole Kmet and work with newcomer Gerald Everett, who signed a two-year deal in the offseason.

Entering his 19th season, Lewis has seen it all at the NFL level and will be a valuable veteran for Williams and the Bears to lean on. He also has the chance to make history by breaking Jason Witten’s record for most games played by a tight end. He needs to play just four games to pass him. Given that Lewis played in all 17 games in 2023, that feat certainly seems achievable.

Bears Twitter reacts to the Cole Kmet extension

The Bears signed Cole Kmet to a contract extension. Here’s how Bears fans are reacting to the deal.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles made his first significant contract extension of his tenure. According to ESPN NFL insiders Adam Schefter and Field Yates, the Bears agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal with tight end Cole Kmet. The deal includes $32.8 million guaranteed.

Kmet was selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame in hopes of bringing stability to the tight end position. He grew with the team and after splitting time with veteran Jimmy Graham, became the unquestioned TE1 in 2022. That was Kmet’s best year as a pro up to this point. He caught 50 receptions for 544 yards and seven touchdowns, all of which led the team last year, while establishing a strong rapport with quarterback Justin Fields.

Now, the Bears are betting on Kmet to continue to ascend in his development. Despite entering his fourth season in the NFL, Kmet is still just 24 years old and is just now entering the prime of his career. The expectation is he will continue to be a valuable weapon for the Bears offense for years to come.

The news of Kmet’s extension sent shockwaves through Bears social media. Here’s how fans reacted to the deal.

30 Most Important Bears of 2023: No. 7 Cole Kmet

Up next in our 30 Most Important Bears is Cole Kmet, who elevated his game in 2022 and could become a top player at his position this year.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the 2023 NFL season, which features plenty of new and returning faces within the organization. There are a number of players, coaches and front office members that are crucial to the team’s success this season.

Every day from now until the start of training camp, we’re counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2023 season. We’ll recap their 2022 season, look ahead to 2023 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year.

Up next at No. 7 is tight end Cole Kmet, who elevated his game in 2022 and could become a top player at his position this year.

Bears 2023 NFL draft preview: Where does Chicago stand at TE?

Next up in our Bears NFL draft preview series is tight end, which already looks improved with Robert Tonyan joining Cole Kmet.

The Chicago Bears have had a busy offseason, working to improve the team following their historic 3-14 run during the 2022 season during general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus’ first year with the team. Now going into Year 2, Poles and Eberflus are working to get the Bears back to relevancy and build a foundation that will eventually lead to postseason success.

Following their free agency frenzy, the Bears are setting their sights towards the 2023 NFL draft, which is quickly approaching. After initially winding up with the No. 1 overall pick, the Bears moved down to No. 9 following a lucrative trade with the Carolina Panthers. They will look to shore up certain positions such as offensive tackle and defensive line that still have glaring holes.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the NFL draft. Up next is tight end, which has a pair of capable pass catchers at the top of the depth chart.

Trey Burton revenge game alert? Colts activate former Bears TE from injured reserve

The Bears will face off against a familiar face in TE Trey Burton when they welcome the Colts into Soldier Field on Sunday.

The Chicago Bears will face off against a familiar face when they welcome the Indianapolis Colts into Soldier Field on Sunday.

Former Bears and current Colts tight end Trey Burton has been activated from injured reserve, according to Adam Schefter. Burton had suffered a calf injury during training camp, which forced the Colts to shelve him for the first few weeks.

While Burton would normally have to wait eight weeks before being permitted to rejoin the active roster, this year those on IR only have to sit out three games before they can return to practice.

The Bears signed Burton to a four-year, $32 million contract, which included $22 million guaranteed, back in 2018. While Burton had his best season with the Bears in 2018 — 54 catches for 569 receiving yards and six touchdowns — it was ultimately his lack of availability that was his downfall.

Chicago hasn’t missed Burton much, as they’ve been riding with veteran Jimmy Graham, who has already scored more touchdowns (3) through three games than all Bears tight ends combined last season.

The Bears and Colts are slated to kick things off at 3:25 p.m. CT on CBS.

Matt Nagy says rookie TE Cole Kmet’s role will increase…in time

Bears HC Matt Nagy acknowledged the small workload with TE Cole Kmet, noting that that he’s not trying to overdo things with the rookie.

[jwplayer ytYBtAt4-ThvAeFxT]

Bears coaches have been singing the praises of second-round rookie tight end Cole Kmet, who impressed during training camp, all offseason. Which was reason to believe that Kmet would factor into Chicago’s offensive plans in the season opener.

That wasn’t exactly the case.

Kmet saw the field just 31% of the time on offense. He was targeted just once — an incompletion thrown behind him, which looked to be a miscommunication between Kmet and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.

Bears coach Matt Nagy acknowledged the small workload with Kmet, noting that that he’s not trying to overdo things. But Nagy said Kmet’s role will certainly increase on offense, albeit it slowly.

“Production and stat line, there wasn’t a whole lot there,” Nagy said. “For the amount of times he played and when he was in there, it was a good mix not to overdo it. There’s going to be a balance of having Jimmy, Demetrius, Cole and J.P. Holtz and others, of trying to understand where they’re at. At the end of the game, you’re in a little more two-minute [offense] because you’re down 17 points, so that changes [things] a little bit. But I think you’ll slowly see his role increase. It just is going to take a little bit of time.”

Which makes sense. Because for all of the praise that Kmet has received for grasping Nagy’s playbook, there’s still the fact of the matter that Kmet didn’t have live preseason reps to work through the little nuances of this offense. There’s only so much you can learn on paper without the benefit of live game speed.

“Obviously, I’m really looking forward to that,” Kmet said ahead of Week 1. “I missed out on part of that this preseason with no preseason games. The NFL game is a little bit different than the college game is, so [I’m] just looking forward to competing against these guys and finding ways for myself to get open. I’m looking forward to all that, so it should be a lot of fun.”

Given the importance of tight end in Nagy’s offense, there’s no doubt that Kmet will continue to be worked into the Bears’ plans while learning on the job. With the ultimate hope being that Kmet will eventually develop into a future star.

Rookie TE Cole Kmet explains how he was able to quickly grasp Bears offense

Rookies have missed out on some valuable reps after a virtual offseason. But TE Cole Kmet managed to quickly grasp Matt Nagy’s offense.

This offseason has been anything but ordinary for NFL players, especially rookies eager to get acquainted with their new team. With an entirely virtual offseason program, rookies have missed out on some valuable reps at team facilities until the start of training camp.

But for Chicago Bears rookie tight end Cole Kmet, he managed to quickly grasp Matt Nagy’s offense this offseason.

“I have yet to trump him in a Zoom meeting on a question,” Nagy said back in May. “I can’t trick him. He knows it all … I will guarantee you he will know this playbook inside out. That’s not going to be an issue.”

Kmet said that “being a good listener and taking good notes” during meetings and studying on his own helped him gain a better understanding of the offense despite the limitations of a virtual offseason.

“I would write out a script for myself and then draw up the whole concept so I knew what everyone was doing on the play, whether that was the running back, the wide receivers, the right guard, the center, what calls had to be made,” Kmet said, via ChicagoBears.com. “I tried to get as much of the big picture as I could so that would help me out.”

Kmet got some help from his younger brother Casey, who is a pitcher at Notre Dame, where Kmet also went to school.

“He’d quiz me on some stuff and we’d go outside and do a mock walk-through,” Kmet said. “Between the whiteboard and my brother, those were two things that helped me out a lot.”

While this offseason has been less than ideal for Kmet, he appears as prepared as possible given this unconventional offseason. And he certainly has an opportunity to make an immediate impact in his rookie season.

[vertical-gallery id=451917]

[lawrence-related id=452224,452218,452202,452191,452128]

Bears will get conditional 2021 7th-round pick for TE Adam Shaheen

The Bears have traded TE Adam Shaheen to the Dolphins for a conditional 2021 7th-round pick, which could become a sixth-round selection.

The Chicago Bears have officially announced they are trading tight end Adam Shaheen to the Miami Dolphins for a conditional 2021 seventh-round pick, which could become a sixth-round selection.

The former second-round pick has battled injuries throughout his three-year career, and he hasn’t lived up to his second-round billing. In three seasons with Chicago, Shaheen has tallied 26 receptions for 249 yards and four touchdowns in 27 games.

The move doesn’t come as much of a surprise as many didn’t expect Shaheen to survive training camp cuts. After a disappointing collective effort by tight ends in 2019, the Bears have completed their overhaul of the tight end room in releasing their top three tight ends from a season ago — Trey Burton, Shaheen and Ben Braunecker.

This offseason, general manager Ryan Pace added second-round rookie Cole Kmet and veterans Jimmy Graham and Demetrius Harris to hopefully breathe some life into this offense.

In Shaheen’s final season in Chicago, he tallied nine receptions for 74 yards in the first eight games before landing on injured reserve with a foot injury, a fitting end for a player that couldn’t stay healthy enough to stay on the field.

[vertical-gallery id=450551]

[lawrence-related id=451179,451129,451121,451082,451059]

Report: Bears sign rookie TE Cole Kmet to contract

Chicago continues to sign its 2020 rookie class, this time reportedly inking top draft pick TE Cole Kmet to his rookie deal.

With rookies allowed to start reporting to training camp on Tuesday, we’re starting to see Chicago Bears rookie sign their contracts. Second-round cornerback Jaylon Johnson and seventh-round offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons shared on Twitter that they had signed their contracts.

Now, according to The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain, the Bears’ top draft pick second-round tight end Cole Kmet has signed his rookie deal.

Kmet was the top-graded tight end coming out of the 2020 NFL Draft, which made him an appealing prospect for a Bears team coming off one of the worst collective tight end performances in 2019.

The Bears overhauled their tight ends room this offseason with three new faces that will likely occupy three of the four roster spots held by tight ends. Kmet and Demetrius Harris will occupy the “Y” tight end role and veteran Jimmy Graham will be the starting “U” tight end.

Kmet is a big tight end that has the ability to block and be a threat in the passing game. While Matt Nagy’s scheme utilizes the move tight end, expect Kmet to be a big part of what this Bears offense does.

Bears coaches have raved among Kmet during this virtual offseason, including how quickly he’s grasped Nagy’s playbook. Given the importance of the tight end in Nagy’s offense, Kmet has a chance to make an immediate impact on the Bears in his rookie season.

Expect more Bears rookies to sign their deals and for official announcements from the team.

[vertical-gallery id=450446]

[lawrence-related id=450764,450651,450698,450696,450686]

LOOK: First glimpse of rookie TE Cole Kmet in a Bears uniform

Bears rookie tight end Cole Kmet is among the 42 NFL rookies that will represent the NFLPA’s Rookie Premiere class.

Chicago Bears rookie tight end Cole Kmet is among the 42 NFL rookies that will represent the NFLPA’s Rookie Premiere class. Kmet is the lone tight end in the group.

Panini America also released a glimpse of Kmet’s rookie card, which features our first look at the second-round pick in a Bears uniform. In the photo, he’s wearing No. 00, but he’ll be sporting No. 85 with the Bears.

Kmet was Chicago’s top draft pick this year, and he’s arguably the most pro-ready rookie in the Bears’ 2020 draft class. Chicago’s coaches have raved among Kmet during this virtual offseason, including how quickly he’s grasped Matt Nagy’s playbook.

Following a disappointing collective outing by their tight ends last year, the Bears overhauled their tight ends room with three new faces that will likely occupy three of the four roster spots held by tight ends. Kmet and Demetrius Harris will occupy the “Y” tight end role and veteran Jimmy Graham will be the starting “U” tight end.

Kmet is a big tight end that has the ability to block and be a threat in the passing game. While Matt Nagy’s scheme utilizes the move tight end, expect Kmet to be a big part of what this Bears offense does.

Given the importance of the tight end in Nagy’s offense, Kmet has a chance to make an immediate impact on the Bears in his rookie season.

[vertical-gallery id=445818]

[lawrence-related id=448990,449029,449013,448893,448968]