Tight end Stephen Carlson, a Jamestown High School graduate, will visit Highmark Stadium on Saturday afternoon when the Chicago Bears take on the Buffalo Bills in a preaseason game.
AP Photo
Upon catching a 9-yard pass from quarterback Tyson Bagent in the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio last week, Chicago tight end Stephen Carlson took a knee and then gave an animated first-down signal before heading back to the huddle.
The brief celebration was somewhat out of character for the 2015 Jamestown High School graduate, who doesn’t normally show outward emotion when he’s on the field, but after a Tuesday afternoon conversation with The Post-Journal, it was apparent that the four-year veteran is pretty comfortable in his second training camp with the Bears.
“I’m not saying I don’t get nervous,” Carlson said. “I’m anxious and I’m studying as hard as I can to make sure I don’t let my foot off the gas, but as I look back this is kind of just bonus time. This is really who I am and I’m meant to be here.”
It’s been quite a journey for the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder. From barely playing his first two years at Princeton University to being selected second-team All-Ivy League in his final two seasons. From going undrafted in 2019 to making the 53-man roster with Cleveland later that year and again in 2020. From suffering a significant knee injury that forced him to miss the entire 2021 campaign only to sign with the Bears in 2023.
“I feel confident where I’m at,” Carlson said. “I’m confident that I’m really good at what I’m doing and I’ve been able to stick around, given all the knocks against me.”
Chicago Bears tight end Stephen Carlson (88) had a catch for 9 yards during last Thursday’s preseason game against the Houston Texans.
AP photo
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In last Thursday night’s game against Houston, Carlson started and played into the second quarter, both at tight end and on special teams, as the Bears’ coaching staff opted not to use their first-stringers.
“A couple little things I could have done better here and there, but I did a lot of good stuff,” Carlson said. “I wasn’t expected to play more than a few drives. … It was kind of exactly how I planned it, how I saw it. The coaches told me I did well, so I’ll just go from here. I feel good about the spot I’m in.”
Admitting he’s “on the bubble” — he’s one of six tight ends on the training camp depth chart — Carlson said the coaching staff “wants to keep me around, so we’ll see if I can squeeze on the roster.
“This season I haven’t been worrying about it too much,” he added. “I’m just trying to stay healthy and doing my thing, and I think it’s worked well for me so far. … I know what to do and I get the job done. I don’t know if there’s much more that they need to see out of me. Obviously, I always want to keep making plays. That’s what I’ve been trying to do with the opportunities I’ve had.”
Carlson will have another chance to do just that when he returns “home” this weekend when the Bears travel to Orchard Park to take on the Buffalo Bills at 1 p.m. Saturday at Highmark Stadium.
That’s a venue he’s quite familiar with.
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A two-time first-team all-state player at Jamestown High School, Carlson played in Section VI title games three times at the home of the Bills, winning two.
“That always brings back good memories,” he said. “The media days we had were always fun and, obviously, winning games, having big catches and making big plays on defense. Playing in an NFL stadium as a high-schooler is pretty awesome. The stadium wasn’t packed, but you had all your friends and family in the stands in the one action and that was really cool. You get to see them after you won. It makes you feel like a big-time player.”
Many of those same folks will be in attendance on Saturday, too.
“We don’t get that many tickets, but I’m asking for some extras,” Carlson said.