Bears OL Teven Jenkins on Being In Chicago Long-Term: 'See How Things Unfold'

Chicago Bears offensive lineman, Teven Jenkins, was recently on 670 The Score with Mark Grote. He said on Thursday night that he wishes to stay in Chicago for a long time. But going into the final year of his rookie contract, how long is a "long time"?

The 26-year-old out of Oklahoma State hasn't been completely available for the Chicago Bears. He missed time every year since being drafted due to injuries and had pre-existing back issues in college. So where does he go from here?

Teven Jenkins on the Bears

The Bears selected Teven Jenkins in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played in only six games during his rookie season, starting only two. Since then, being riddled with different injuries, he played in only 25 games.

Jenkins played over 90% of the Bears' offensive snaps and significantly reduced the amount of penalties called on him in 2023. He was arguably the Bears' most-improved player from 2022 to 2023 and was a staple along the offensive line, earning a high grade from the On Tap Sports Net scouts.

But Jenkins isn't a beacon of health and that's concerning. For a 26-year-old player entering the final year of his contract, there are a lot of questions surrounding longevity. Jenkins told 670 The Score that he wants to remain a Bear for a long time but doesn't know how it will go and didn't rule out the possibility of a contract extension.

Jenkins' agent has the Oklahoma State product waiting patiently to contact the Bears' brass about contract negotiations. He said they have to wait to see how everything unfolds before starting any negotiations.

Could he be a pillar on the offensive line to protect Caleb Williams? Absolutely. But availability is the best ability when it comes to the offensive line, which is why a team can never have too many linemen.

Jenkins is taking steps to improve his body from an external aspect: eating better, training better, and recovering more. He said he's also willing to play anywhere on the offensive line and to remain in Chicago.

Whether or not Teven Jenkins can do that remains to be seen. The fourth-year lineman needs to put together a full year of NFL action with above-average reps keeping him in pole position as a leader on the Chicago Bears offensive line to make a long-term deal realistically happen.