Teven Jenkins went from a bust offensive tackle to the best lineman the Chicago Bears have in record time. All of it started when the coaches decided to move him inside to guard. After some initial hiccups, the former 2nd round pick has blossomed over the past three months. There is no question he is playing at a high level, both as a run blocker and in pass protection. Yet what stands out most about him is his physicality. The guy is fast developing a reputation for violence. He plays with a mean streak. His style reminds people of Olin Kreutz and Kyle Long.
That might explain why he seeks every opportunity to put a defender on his back. Pancakes are his favorite food. Everybody talks about his block on Nick Bosa in the season opener when he put the Defensive Player of the Year hopeful on the turf. However, that isn’t Jenkins’ favorite moment of 2022. He spoke with Adam Jahns of The Athletic about his ascent at guard since the season began. His favorite block actually took place a week later in Green Bay against what has been a notorious Bears villain in recent years.
On first-and-10 from the Bears’ 31 in the third quarter against the Packers in Week 2, Jenkins got his hands on defensive lineman Dean Lowry. It turned into his favorite block of the season, though many good ones came after it this season. But in this case, Jenkins drove Lowry from the numbers into the Bears’ sideline and beyond.
“I mean, it wasn’t a pancake, but that’s still one of my favorite things,” Jenkins said. “I’ve kind of had good luck with that in college, too.”
Teven Jenkins did much the same in the rematch.
The Bears’ offensive line owned the line of scrimmage most of the afternoon against Green Bay last Sunday. Justin Fields wasn’t sacked, and they ran the ball well again. Sadly they failed to finish enough drives with points, and it returned to haunt them. That doesn’t change the fact things are pointed in the right direction. Jenkins is a big reason why. His emergence at guard gives GM Ryan Poles more clarity on his off-season objectives for 2023. Now it appears center and right tackle are the only two spots that need clear upgrades.
How many twists and turns a young career can take in the NFL is amazing. Teven Jenkins went from future franchise left tackle, to benched, to emergency option at right guard, to possible future Pro Bowler in less than a calendar year. He deserves so much credit for overcoming some difficult moments, including his back surgery last season to losing the starting tackle spot. Things appear to have worked out in the end. The Bears’ offensive line needed a tone-setter. He is their guy, just not in the spot envisioned. That is pro football in a nutshell.
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@Hehateme30 – Appreciate your comeback about our “bear dozer”. Glad you see him the same way. Thanks…
Pure pleasure watching Teven play Bear’s football. Looking forward to next year and, hopefully, years beyond.
we COULD thank Pace… but… he drafted him at a position that almost saw his career go down the tube.
Bear down… play close but don’t win any… we need #2 overall so we can move back and get 2+ 1st rounders
Hey Murph, I love your little colloquialism… Tevin Jenkins, is a bear dozer. That’s pretty good dude, love me some Tevin Jenkins.
I suppose Green Bay doesn’t have a message board so we have to put up with TG and his incessant whining down here.