(670 The Score) Whenever rookies first report to Halas Hall, they're always asked just how much they know about what they're getting into. Chicago is no ordinary football market, they're told, and Halas Hall is no ordinary facility.
Some -- like quarterback Justin Fields, who said Friday afternoon that he felt like he was "born for this" -- already seem to comprehend the magnitude of their new city and its fans. Others, like new offensive tackle Teven Jenkins, are still getting there.
"You know, in person I don't think I've ever seen (a skyscraper)," Jenkins said Friday afternoon. "Do you guys have skyscrapers?
"It definitely set in for me when I got on that plane ride. That's when it definitely hit me. That's when it hit me the hardest, because I've never been to Chicago, Illinois, ever. As soon as I landed, I felt like a tourist because I was looking side-to-side, looking through all the windows like, 'Oh, ah'."
Jenkins hasn't really gotten to explore much of the city yet -- his first pitch at Wrigley is still TBD, apparently -- but he has gotten a head start on endearing himself with the locals. A broad smile flashed across his face when asked about his interactions with his new fans so far. "
I'm having a lot of good times with Bears fans," he said. "Especially on Twitter."
Rookie minicamp started shortly after Jenkins' press conference wrapped up Friday afternoon, marking the first time he practices as the team's left tackle -- an important distinction because, as you may remember, he spent most of his time at Oklahoma State playing on the right side. For his part, Jenkins said he was confident at all five spots on the offensive line and side-stepped a question about whether he was the starting left tackle.
"Right now, I'm just not even worried about that," he said. "I'm just worried about getting in, knowing my plays, knowing players, getting to know my teammates, getting my feet wet in the scheme … right now is for me to develop and progress and if comes to that, you know, that's what it comes to."
Fields and Jenkins each mentioned the importance this weekend has in terms of getting familiar with the playbook and what they're doing to work on getting it down. Fields opts for a traditional flashcard method, drawing formations on one side and jotting down the corresponding terminology on the other. Jenkins' process is more focused on play retention, and he tests himself in timed increments.
"I do 30 increments for myself," he said. "I get all the information in one, see if I can absorb it, go like 30 minutes, play video games or something, come back … I'm testing my recall, so when we get on the field I can just be quick as a snap. As soon as they say it to me, I can just keep on progressing in my head."
When he finally gets some time away from Halas this weekend, Jenkins has his sights set on finally getting some Chicago pizza. If nothing else, it was a great line for a player who already seems, despite what he may say, at home.
Cam Ellis is a writer for 670 The Score and Audacy Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KingsleyEllis.
