Teven

Jenkins

This despite Cleveland’s recent signing of Teven Jenkins. The Browns’ offensive line was hit hard by injuries last season, and both Teller (30 years old) and incumbent LG Joel Bitonio (33 years old) are scheduled to hit free agency next offseason. The 27-year-old Jenkins received a one-year, $3.05 million prove-it deal, giving him the chance to earn a multi-year contract as either Teller or Bitonio’s replacement. Jenkins has experience playing both left guard and right guard. Teller has declined handily from his 2020-2021 peak while dealing with injuries, posting a 62.6 PFF grade in 2024 that was his lowest since 2019.

The terms aren’t yet known, but Jenkins brings three years of starting experience to the Browns. Despite the Bears’ decision to move on from him, Jenkins has graded out as one of the top-15 guards in the league in each of the last two seasons, per PFF, and has allowed 17 or fewer pressures in every season he’s played in. Cleveland wouldn’t seem to have an obvious starting spot for Jenkins, whose market appears to have been weaker than expected because of his lengthy injury history.

Jenkins started 14 games for the Bears last season, but became expendable after the team went out and upgraded both guard positions this offseason. Jenkins earned a PFF blocking grade of 75.4 last season and has graded as a top-15 blocker in each of his last two seasons. The former second-round pick is a more than serviceable starter who would immediately provide an upgrade to a Seahawks line that saw some of the worst guard play in the league last season.

The Giants recently signed veteran OG Greg Van Roten so this may come down to the Bengals and Seahawks. Both teams need to significantly improve their interior blocking. Jenkins entered the NFL as a left tackle in 2021 but was ultimately shifted to offensive guard; first right, then left. Jenkins has generally performed reliably as a run blocker throughout his career while incrementally improving his pass protection skills. He earned a career-best 75.8 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2024. Both teams should be willing to meet the 27-year-old’s asking price.

Jones went midway through the second quarter. He stayed on the field for a while to be checked out by trainers before riding the cart to the locker room. Jones gave the crowd a thumbs up on his way out, though he’s obviously done for the day. Left guard Teven Jenkins is also doubtful to return with a calf injury. As if things needed to get worse for the trailing Bears, they are now down to backups on the left side of their line.

As is left tackle Braxton Jones, who had nearly cleared the league’s concussion protocol on Friday but was assigned a questionable tag. With both linemen active, the Bears avoided a nightmare scenario for their struggling rookie quarterback.

Backup interior lineman Ryan Bates was ruled out while starting left tackle Braxton Jones is questionable. Stop us if you’ve heard this before. The Bears could be down multiple starters along the offensive line this week.

The Bears have been decimated by offensive line injuries this season, so an injury to their starting left guard is nothing new. Jenkins previously missed a game with an ankle injury. Matt Pryor would likely be the next man up if Jenkins is out for Week 16. Fellow offensive linemen Ryan Bates and Braxton Jones also missed Wednesday’s practice with concussions.

The Bears’ offensive line health is improving, providing a big boost to the team’s skill position players. The unit will have its hands full, defending against the Vikings’ blitz-happy defense but Caleb Williams should play far more comfortably than he otherwise would have.

Jenkins missed Week 11 with an ankle issue, but a limited session to open the week gives him a good shot at suiting up on Sunday. The Bears got both their starting tackles back in the lineup last week and could return Jenkins to the field as well, giving Caleb Williams the best line he has played behind in a while.