Teven Jenkins hasn’t had the start to his NFL career that he or the Bears had hoped for. His name been included in trade talk recently as a result, leaving open the possibility that his second pro season would take place elsewhere.
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The 2021 second-rounder was seen as a long-term solution at one of the team’s tackle spots by former GM Ryan Pace. Instead, his struggles on the edge left him practicing with the second-team offense during the spring. Failing to impress the new front office, led by Ryan Poles, the 24-year-old quickly found himself on the roster bubble.
The Bears entertained trade calls on the Oklahoma State alum earlier this month, a telling sign given his age and draft status. Nothing sufficiently tempting materialized, given his continued presence on the roster, but that could change. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that a deal sending Jenkins elsewhere is still “certainly possible” (video link).
Aside from factors like his affordability on a rookie deal for three more years, Chicago could hold on to Jenkins if he performs well at right guard, where he was recently deployed. He has an opportunity to win a starting role on the inside, with recent signee Riley Reiff the likely candidate at RT. According to his new offensive coordinator, Jenkins has embraced the opportunity to establish a first-team spot at the less glamorous position.
“Teven’s done a great job of accepting that challenge at right guard,” Luke Getsy said (Twitter link via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times). If he impresses at that position, a release would become even less likely than it already is. A trade, likewise, would also be less of a consideration from the Bears’ perspective as roster cuts are finalized and the team looks to take a much-needed step forward on offense.
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