Tight End Covered/Uncovered

[BktBallRef]

I think you misunderstood what happened in the Bears game. It's perfectly legal for the TE to be uncovered and it's done dozens of times in every game. In the NFL, the formation is illegal if a TE is covered up, or if a lineman who has not reported as eligible is uncovered.

In NFHS, as long as there are 7 players on the LOS and all other players are in the backfield except the QB, the formation is legal. If an eligible number is covered up, he is ineligible.