Possibly a tensioner issue. So long as the cam dimple is still at 11:30 [+ or - a couple of cam teeth] at TDC you shouldn't have to pull the head again for bent valves. But you'll have to pull the timing cover to see what happened. The oil pump on the 22RE is secured with bolts of different lengths, and if you put a long one in the wrong hole you can put the tensioner out of commission.
The bright links on the chain are only for the initial setup. They only return to that position randomly.
Take a new timing chain set with you, and good luck.