Bears' Teven Jenkins out indefinitely with leg injury, expected to miss start of 2023 season, per report
Teven Jenkins was arguably the best offensive lineman on the Chicago Bears last season. Now, the team will have to make do without a key part of its offense for some time.
Jenkins is out indefinitely with a leg injury with his timeline to return unknown, according to ESPN. The left guard is expected to miss at least the first month as the Bears won't have a key cog in their line for at least the first three games.
With Jenkins out, Chicago's offensive line continues to be decimated throughout training camp. Starting center Cody Whitehair has a hand injury that has kept him out while backup guard/center Lucas Patrick has missed most of camp with an undisclosed injury. Nate Davis returned from injury last week.
The injuries to the interior of the Bears' offensive line will have an impact on Justin Fields' development in 2023, as a passer anyway. Chicago has never had a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards nor pass for 30 touchdowns in a season -- the only franchise in NFL history to not have either. Fields could be the first after a 2022 season in which he completed 60.4% of his passes for 2,242 yards and 17 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.
Fields also rushed for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns, finishing with the second-most rushing yards for a quarterback in a season. He's the first quarterback on record to record three or more rushing touchdowns of 50-plus yards in a single season.
The Bears may have to rely on Fields to run more than usual while Jenkins is out, especially since he was arguably their best pass protector last year. He allowed just two sacks and 10 pressures on 284 pass-blocking snaps, with a 3.5% pressure rate allowed per dropback -- while playing right guard.
Jenkins was slotted in as left guard for 2023, lined up next to Braxton Jones to shore up the left side of the offensive line. With Jenkins and Patrick out for the time being, Alex Leatherwood would be next in line to start at the position.