Most of the news the
Chicago Bears delivered on Friday was of the bad kind. Justin Fields will not start due to his rib injury. Allen Robinson remains out with a hamstring. Marquise Goodwin won't play either. The same is true for Akiem Hicks and maybe even Roquan Smith as well. This is a banged-up football team that will have to face the best team in the NFC shorthanded. Even so, not every update was that depressing. Mixed in with them was one fans have eagerly waited for. The official return of Teven Jenkins.
Head coach Matt Nagy made it
clear plans are for the rookie to be activated on Saturday and be suited up for his first professional game against the Arizona Cardinals. It has been a long road for the 2nd round pick. The Bears were so high on him coming out of Oklahoma State. It is why they traded up. Sadly a back injury cropped up during the spring and wasn't healing. So he was forced to undergo back surgery.
Many wondered at the time if Jenkins was done for the year.
Back issues are always concerning for guys of that size and play such a physical position. GM Ryan Pace said the surgery was a complete success. It was a matter of how the rehab went. By all accounts, it was clockwork. No complications. Teven Jenkins regained his conditioning began practicing again two weeks ago. If his body held up well to the physicality, he would get the green light to rejoin the team.
The fact he was able to return with six games still left to go is impressive. Some wondered if he'd even managed two or three. That he was able to get back with over a month still left in the season is a testament to his hard work and his toughness. Now the Bears will get a priceless opportunity to see their young tackle in action.
Nobody needs this more than Pace. He invested a ton of draft capital in Jenkins. With his job looking more and more tenuous, getting the young tackle on the field and having him play well might prove crucial to the GM's survival.
