Report: Top Bears Lineman Could Be Sidelined for 6 Weeks Due to Leg Injury
The Chicago Bears invested heavily in their offensive line this offseason, but it appears they've hit a snag.
According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, offensive guard Teven Jenkins has sustained a leg injury that could sideline him for up to six weeks. The Bears have been tight-lipped about injuries, and it's unclear why Jenkins missed time earlier in training camp.
Jenkins didn't play in the Bears' 24-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, as coach Matt Eberflus chose to rest most of his first-string players. The leg injury is the latest in a string of setbacks for Jenkins, who has battled injuries throughout his first two seasons in the league. He appeared in only six games as a rookie in 2021 and made 13 appearances (11 starts) last year, according to Pro Football Reference.
Losing Jenkins for any extended period would be a significant blow for the Bears. He was one of the NFL's top guards last season, excelling in run blocking and holding his own in pass protection. Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave Jenkins an overall player grade of 80.7, ranking him as the third-best guard out of 77 eligible players.
This summer, the Bears shifted Jenkins to the left side of the line, pairing him with second-year left tackle Braxton Jones. They also drafted Darnell Wright 10th overall to play right tackle and signed free agent Nate Davis to play right guard. Cody Whitehair is slated to start at center, according to the Bears' official website.
With Jenkins potentially out, the Bears are thin on options to replace him. Behind Jenkins on the depth chart is Alex Leatherwood, a former first-rounder from Alabama who started all 17 games for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021. However, Leatherwood only played 32 snaps for the Bears in four games last year due to a bout of mononucleosis that landed him on the reserve/non-football illness list for six weeks.
One possible solution for the Bears is free agent Dalton Risner, who has spent his entire four-year NFL career with the Denver Broncos, starting 62 of 66 possible regular-season games. Signing Risner could provide the Bears with a dependable talent on the offensive line, even when Jenkins returns. Additionally, it would keep a quality player away from the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings, who reportedly hosted Risner for a visit on August 1 and may be interested in signing him.
| POLL | ||
21 AOUT | 64 ANSWERS Report: Top Bears Lineman Could Be Sidelined for 6 Weeks Due to Leg Injury Will the Bears' Oline struggle without Teven Jenkins? | ||
| Yes | 37 | 57.8 % |
| No | 27 | 42.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
