Chicago Bears right tackle Teven Jenkins: ‘I play wherever they need me’

Chicago Bears 2021 second-round pick Teven Jenkins feels right at home at right tackle

Teven Jenkins is finding his role on the Chicago Bears with a lot of other new offensive linemen. Jenkins, the second-year offensive tackle, is practicing at right tackle during OTA’s. The former Oklahoma State product missed most of his rookie campaign out with injury.

With the Bears trading up to draft Jenkins at 39 last year, expectations by fans and the media were that he would play left tackle. (Left tackle traditionally is considered a more difficult position than right, because they protect a right-handed quarterbacks blindside.)

During voluntary minicamp, reports were out Jenkins was practicing at right tackle, while Larry Borom was at left tackle. Jenkins told reporters Tuesday after practice he was happy playing right tackle.

“It feels good. You know, that’s what I played mostly at college,” Jenkins said. “It is comfortable, it’s nice and I do look forward to getting reps at right tackle.”

It’s Jenkins understanding the Bears will be playing him at right tackle this season. A reporter asked him if he worries about the prestige of left tackle vs right tackle. That distinction doesn’t matter to Jenkins, who said he just wanted to play where he elevates the Bears’ offense.

“I play wherever they need me,” he said. “Get in where you fit in.”

Slimming down to speed up

The offense under Luke Getsy is up-tempo and fast-paced this season versus Nagy’s scheme, Jenkins said. Jenkins worked on losing weight in the offseason to he could be more mobile on the offensive line for their outside zone run blocking scheme.

Jenkins has slimmed down to 325-pounds vs his high of 345-pounds last season, he said. His body fat percentage has gone from 33-percent to 24-percent. Cutting carbs helped him lose the weight, he said. The transition will make Jenkins faster, but he said losing weight will decrease his overall strength.

“Slimming down is difficult but you have to be disciplined in yourself to make sure that you are on the right diet and make sure your body does what it’s supposed to do.”

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