Just a couple of weeks ago, many were writing off Bears offensive lineman Teven Jenkins. After missing seven consecutive practices with an undisclosed injury and reports about him being on the trade block, Jenkins now has an opportunity to earn a starting job.
This week, Jenkins started getting reps at right guard rather than right tackle, where he’d been working all offseason. But on Tuesday, he got all of the reps at right guard with the first-team offense.
“We kicked him inside and he’s been there for a couple days and he’s doing a good job,” Eberflus said. “And we’re excited where he goes from this forward.”
Most of the offensive line looks to be settled with left tackle Braxton Jones, left guard Cody Whitehair and center Lucas Patrick. But the door has been opened for Jenkins to win the starting right guard job over Michael Schofield, who had a rough outing in last week’s preseason opener.
“I think he’s done a good job of staying the course, trying to find ways to help this team,” Whitehair said of Jenkins. “It’s never easy to have to move different positions, but I think he’s handled it well and I’m happy with where he’s at.”
Offensive line coach Chris Morgan believes Jenkins has the skillset to thrive at guard in this offensive scheme.
“He’s got great size; he’s got good strength,” Morgan said. “He’s a smart football player. Those are all things you want inside, that translate inside. Things move fast inside.”
Bears starters will be limited in Thursday’s preseason game against the Seahawks given the short turnaround this week. But Jenkins should see plenty of reps as he gets more experience at right guard.
“If you’re not an experienced guy at your position, we’re going to try to get you a little bit more, and that’s really at any position,” Eberflus said. “We’re going to try to get that. Those guys really don’t have a limitation. Some guys are capped at 20 (plays). And some guys don’t have a limitation. They could play as much as we want them to or need them to.”
