(670 The Score) A prized draft prospect of the Bears' previous regime, guard Teven Jenkins has had to earn his role and reputation with the team's current coaches and talent evaluators.
Jenkins has battled injuries and switched positions over three seasons with the Bears, going from the brink of being pushed out the door to a potential mainstay on the offensive line. A second-round pick in 2021, Jenkins is now through his third season and standing on solid ground thanks to the work he has put forth.
This Bears regime views Jenkins as a vastly different player from the one they first met two years ago.
"It's like life, the way he carries himself in the building every day, the way he comes into meetings every day, the way he answers questions, the way now he can put things together on the field," Bears offensive line coach Chris Morgan said. "I mean, that like he's made some plays this year that have kind of been wow plays. Whether he's supposed to take one guy and then take two late or something like that, the timing of it, the understanding of it, the execution of it, he's putting it all together.
"It's just overall growth. He's really going after it. Like, he wants to be good. We all know he's big and strong, and we talk about all that. But it's just the maturity overall."
The 25-year-old Jenkins played in 12 games this past season as he made his third position change in as many seasons by stepping in as the new starter at left guard. He was set back by injuries once again, first with a calf ailment during training camp in August and then a concussion late in the season. Jenkins has played 31 of a possible 51 games over his three-year NFL career.
When Jenkins has been healthy, there's no denying his presence on the field. He ranked 13th among 65 guards across the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus grading. In particular, Jenkins excelled as a run blocker.
Jenkins is heading into the final season of his rookie contract in 2024 and is eligible for an extension this offseason. A potentially complex assessment looms for the Bears, who must measure his performance against the injury issues. General manager Ryan Poles can start exploring a contract extension for Jenkins but also will likely be wary of the health risk as he seeks quality depth for the offensive line.
What Jenkins has proved to the Bears is that he can be a key figure in their plans moving forward, and the team believes in his future.
"It's coming together for him," Morgan said. "He's putting in a lot of work. And it should, because he's super talented, he's smart. It's exciting to see."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
