Bears' roster cut confirms suspicion surrounding recent draft pick
It seemed like there was a real chance Teven Jenkins was going to be displaced from the Chicago Bears just a month ago. To whom and to where was unknown, but it was certain Jenkins' career need a jolt in the worst way. Something had to change and it needed to change, fast. Fortunately for […]
It seemed like there was a real chance Teven Jenkins was going to be displaced from the Chicago Bears just a month ago.
To whom and to where was unknown, but it was certain Jenkins' career need a jolt in the worst way. Something had to change and it needed to change, fast.
Fortunately for Jenkins, the Bears gave him exactly he needed: They moved him from tackle to guard, specifically right guard.
It didn't take long for Jenkins to crack the starting lineup. He took over for Schofield and started the second game against the Seahawks and then started the final game against the Browns.
Naturally, the aforementioned developments led many to assume it all meant both a roster spot and the starting job was coming. And that Schofield was no longer the guy at right guard.
Those assumptions were confirmed after the Bears released Schofield on Tuesday.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero was the first to report the news.
Schofield signed with the Bears in late July and was immediately penciled in as the starting guard opposite Cody Whitehair. Now, he's without a job after losing out to Jenkins.
There's another layer to the story, however, and that's the fact the Bears still need as much depth and experience as possible on the offensive line. Schofield is a former third-round pick who has appeared in 102 games with 81 starts since 2014. Those numbers include 15 appearances with 12 starts in 2021. He also started in and won Super Bowl L with the Denver Broncos and has two postseason starts with the Los Angeles Chargers under his belt. So, it's a bit surprising to see him completely booted from the 53.
There's still a chance for a return, however. Schofield is a veteran, so he won't have to go through waivers. If the Bears decide to put any players on IR, it will open up the same amount of roster spots. Therefore, Schofield can find himself back on the roster if there's obvious interest from the Bears.
Ultimately, the move showcases the Bears' confidence in Jenkins as a starter, which is certainly one of best stories from the summer and one that will be intriguing to pay attention to moving forward.
Featured image via Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
