Chicago Bears OT Teven Jenkins returns to observe, denies clashing with coaches

LAKE FOREST, Sick. – Chicago Bears offensive sort out Teven Jenkins returned to coaching camp on Saturday after lacking seven straight practices with an undisclosed harm.

Jenkins, who’s in a ramp up interval, solely participated in particular person drills. The second-year lineman wouldn’t disclose specifics of his harm, together with whether or not he obtained damage throughout the workforce’s first observe on July 27, whether or not he is nonetheless coping with again points after present process surgical procedure final offseason and what he is at the moment recovering from, however estimated that he ought to be at 100% full well being in ‘a few days.’

“It feels actually good and I am not having any discomfort proper now, so it is actually good,” Jenkins mentioned after going via Saturday’s observe. “If I needed to give myself a %, most likely round 90% and it is nearly working my physique again into the sensation of soccer again once more and getting again to that 100% of ‘that is soccer’ and prepare to go.”

Jenkins mentioned he is been within the coaching room for the final 9 days and that his extended absence was for ‘the betterment of my well being.’

His absence was significantly noticeable at Halas Corridor amid commerce rumors involving the second-round choose. Earlier within the week, Jenkins replied to a fan on Twitter involved about his whereabouts to ‘not imagine all the things you learn’ in gentle of stories of mutual malcontent between the participant and the franchise.

“Only one factor, primarily, that I used to be clashing with coaches,” Jenkins mentioned. “That was completely not true, and I simply wished to inform all people that you do not have to imagine all the things that any individual says. It is simply how it’s.”

All through the primary week and a half of observe, coach Matt Eberflus declined to deal with specifics of Jenkins’ absence and categorized the sort out as ‘each day.’ Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy mentioned on Friday that Jenkins has been current throughout workforce conferences and ‘all in.’

Each Getsy and Eberflus preserve that Jenkins is in competitors for a beginning spot on the offensive line and have relayed that message to the lineman.

“Actually, the identical as all people: ‘Go on the market and compete. All the things’s open. Dive in,'” Eberflus mentioned. “Like we have mentioned, he is been nice in conferences. He is been very attentive. He is been paying consideration. He is been again up on the walk-throughs wanting on the performs and understanding his position and the performs. So he is been good.”

Jenkins was drafted thirty ninth total in 2021 by former Bears common supervisor Ryan Tempo. After present process again surgical procedure earlier than his rookie season, Jenkins was restricted to 157 snaps at left sort out final season.

Jenkins mentioned he believes within the Bears group and expects to be with the workforce throughout the common season. “For me myself, I am a loyal kind of man,” Jenkins mentioned. “The Chicago Bears, they drafted me so I am going to stick with the Chicago Bears till each time it’s.”

Jenkins was supplanted at left sort out by rookie fifth rounder Braxton Jones throughout OTAs and was moved to proper sort out with the second workforce. On the primary day of coaching camp, Jenkins obtained reps as a swing sort out and mentioned he is keen to discover a transfer to protect.

“I am keen to play wherever they need me,” Jenkins mentioned. “I need to be right here in Chicago so I am enjoying wherever they want me to play.”

Jenkins’ return got here on a day the place Chicago completed its ninth observe of coaching camp down three of its high 4 broad receivers.

N’Keal Harry sustained a left ankle/foot harm throughout the first play of workforce drills and needed to be helped off the sector by teammates and trainers.

“I simply noticed him come down,” Eberflus mentioned. “I noticed the play and I do not actually know a lot from there. We’re clearly going to do the analysis after which as soon as I get that, we will get it again to you. And if it is longer scenario, we’ll let you understand what it’s. If it is day-by-day, we’ll say that, too.”

Byron Pringle and rookie Velus Jones Jr. have been additionally non-participants on Saturday. Pringle, one of many Bears high free agent signings, has a quad harm, in response to Eberflus, and has no timetable for a return, although the workforce is optimistic his harm won’t hold him out for the common season.

“No., I do not assume so. I do not assume so,” Eberflus mentioned. “It is longer than day-to-day, in order that’s all I can say, however no actual timetable to return. However we’re hopeful that it is a good scenario for us.”

Jones Jr. is ‘each day,’ in response to Eberflus, who addressed considerations over the workforce’s broad receiver depth after being with out three gamers in line for the No. 2 and No. 3 broad receiver roles.

“Yeah, you are at all times involved about that,” Eberflus mentioned. “You recognize, throughout camp when you might have this 90-man roster and guys go down with a soft-tissue stuff or no matter it could be, you set workloads on different guys. And people different guys have alternative. They’ve extra reps, so you must be aware of that. And we have been. We’re aware of that.”