Bears front office gives Teven Jenkins an updated timeframe for when the two sides can discuss a contract extension
Under general manager Ryan Poles, the Chicago Bears haven't shied away from extending players who were brought in by prior regimes.Tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson are prime examples, but those players also had to prove their worth before landing new deals with the team. It seems like that's what the front office […]
Under general manager Ryan Poles, the Chicago Bears haven't shied away from extending players who were brought in by prior regimes.
Tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson are prime examples, but those players also had to prove their worth before landing new deals with the team. It seems like that's what the front office is hoping to see out of a young promising player on the offensive line before continuing contract negotiations.
Earlier this offseason, left guard Teven Jenkins noted that he and his agent were met with no response when inquiring about a potential extension coming down the pipeline. Weeks later, Jenkins was finally given a potential timeframe by the front office.
"Last I was told, I gotta wait until after the bye week to reconvene about it," Jenkins explained while speaking with reporters after Monday's practice.
For context, the Bears bye week is scheduled during Week 7, following the team's trip to London in mid-October. While it seems disappointing for Jenkins, who clearly wants to get something done to have some security heading into a contract year, it could be worse and the front office is handling things the right way.
The biggest hold up to paying Jenkins is his reliability factor on offense. Since being drafted by the Bears in 2021, Jenkins has missed 20 games and appeared in 31. On the field, Jenkins has proven to be a stout player at left guard and a versatile piece who can even line up at right guard at a high level, but he needs to prove he can stay on the field before the front office can invest in a new extension with him.
That's exactly what Jenkins is hoping to prove this offseason and heading into the season after taking all the necessary steps to improve the health of his body.
"Other than spending a lot more money on my body than I ever have, I'm just starting to hammer it more," Jenkins explained. "I was talking to my PT guy and I'm going to see if he can come out twice a week, make sure I get my body going into gameday. I'm trying new chefs out, making sure I keep my inflammation down in my body. I’m starting to look into more massages, not a big massage guy, but I’m gonna look into probably seeing if that would be beneficial as well.”
If all of these changes to his routine and process pays dividends in his health on the field, it will prove to be worth it and prove to the team that he's serious about getting better. If that's the case, a sizable contract could be coming his way down the road.
“I made it vocal many times that I want to be here on the Chicago Bears,” Jenkins added. “Whatever I need to do, how much I’d need to pay forward to get it back on the back end, that’s the determination I have to keep doing that.”
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