The Chicago Bears made their expectation for Teven Jenkins clear right from the jump. Not only did they trade up in the 2nd round for him. A price that cost them two additional picks. They also released longtime left tackle Charles Leno, paving the way for the rookie to take over that prestigious spot. One can imagine the rookie from Oklahoma State is a little overwhelmed. Not only is he switching to a position be barely played in college. He’s doing so in a city that is like nothing he’s ever been to in his life.
That can be a lot to take in. Luckily it seems Jenkins has gotten some help from one of his new teammates. The rookie revealed in his first press conference since the draft that Cody Whitehair was in contact with him almost immediately since being drafted. The longtime Bears center and guard has been a much-needed sounding board for him, answering any and all questions he may have about what it takes to excel at this level.
.@TevenJenkins says he's very appreciative of new teammate Cody Whitehair, calling him "a helping hand" and sharing that they've talking back and forth since he was drafted.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 14, 2021
It isn’t a surprise Whitehair is doing this.
Not only is he a great leader for that Bears offensive line, there is another motivation too. It’s a strong possibility that he and Jenkins will be playing next to each other moving forward. Remember that Whitehair started 2020 at center but then moving to left guard as injuries struck the line. That move may have ended up being beneficial. Not only did Sam Mustipher perform well in his absence, but Whitehair himself was tremendous at left guard.
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Enough to where a strong belief exists that the Bears will just leave him there. Mustipher will remain at center and James Daniels, their original left guard, will shift over to the right side. Presuming this is true, that means Jenkins and Whitehair will be working in tandem. That means they must be in concert with their communication at all times.
Teven Jenkins is wise to take his lessons from Cody
Especially when it comes to learning a new position on the fly. That is something Whitehair has done for most of his career. He’s spent time at center, right guard, and left guard. This after playing left tackle at Kansas State. So he knows a thing or two about what must be done to master a new position quickly. If the rookie listens well, he should be well-prepared for when the real action starts in September.
Beyond this, the pairing of these two has a ton of potential. Particularly in the run game. Whitehair showcased last season how dominant he can be as a run blocker when he switched to guard. Teven Jenkins himself was a bulldozer quite often in college. If they get on the same page early this year, it could mean some fun times for David Montgomery and the rest of the running backs.
Jenkins is ready for the fun to begin.
He’s already embracing Chicago fans on Twitter, seeking out the best pizza spots, and getting acquainted with team history. It is going to be so much fun watching him develop when training camp arrives. That is when the pads will go on and people get their first real glimpse of what he can do.