Colston Loveland injury update: Dr. Neal Elattrache sends letter to 32 NFL teams ahead of Draft

World-renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal Elattrache sent a letter to all 32 NFL teams informing them that Michigan tight end Colston Loveland will be fully cleared ahead of training camp after recently undergoing shoulder surgery, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

According to Elattrache’s letter, Loveland — who is widely considered a first-round pick in April’s 2025 NFL Draft — underwent surgery on Jan. 29 to repair and reconstruct the AC joint in his right shoulder after suffering the initial injury in September. Elattrache revealed Loveland “experienced no post operative complications nor delays” to his initial rehab process and is already showing “easy early passive and active assisted range of motion,” according to his letter.

In a letter sent today to all 32 teams, Dr. Neal Elattrache wrote that he expects Michigan TE and projected first-round pick Colston Loveland to be ready to participate in minicamp and fully cleared for training camp despite undergoing surgery on his right shoulder last month. pic.twitter.com/8DN8Cz9e37

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 25, 2025

Loveland’s post-surgery X-rays show proper AC joint alignment and Elattrache attested to the Michigan tight end’s progress with an expectation he could participate in non-contact workouts during team minicamp and will be fully cleared to resume all team drills by preseason camp.

Loveland remains in contention with Penn State’s Tyler Warren to become the first tight end selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, though his draft stock has faded somewhat following reports of his recent shoulder surgery.

The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Loveland set the Michigan single-season record for most receptions by a tight end with 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns in 2024, despite missing two games due to his nagging shoulder injury. Loveland’s 11 career receiving touchdowns are also tied for second in program history, while he is third all-time in career receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,466).

Daniel Jeremiah: Colston Loveland ‘equipped to make a lot of catches’ as a NFL rookie

NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah isn’t among those concerned about the health of Loveland’s rehabbing right shoulder, keeping the versatile tight end in the Top 10 of his latest Top 50 prospect ranking ahead of this week’s NFL Scouting Combine.

“Loveland is a long, lean tight end with outstanding awareness, quickness and big-play ability. He has aligned in-line, as a wing and in the slot. He’s urgent in his release. He has a tremendous feel for option routes and working in space,” Jeremiah wrote about Loveland, who he has ranked seventh overall. “He can cleanly get in/out of breaks and he presents a big target to the quarterback. He attacks the ball in the air and is adept at finishing in crowds. After the catch, he has a smooth stride and possesses a nasty stiff-arm. He has some wiggle to make defenders miss, as well. His lack of bulk impacts his ability to stay connected as a run blocker, though. Overall, Loveland is equipped to make a lot of catches as a starting tight end in his rookie campaign.”