REPORT: Teven Jenkins shares an update on contract extension talks with the Bears.
After practice at Bears training camp, Teven Jenkins shared his new attitude to his season and why he started investing more in his physique.
LAKE FOREST, Illinois — Teven Jenkins, an offensive guard, has made his ambitions known. The fourth-year guard intends to remain in Chicago for as long as the Bears will have him.
Jenkins is entering the final season of his four-year rookie deal and is hoping for a long-term extension.
During the offseason program, Jenkins told the media that his representation reached out to the Bears to start contract talks but they did not engage. Jenkins said things were “up in the air” as of June.
The Bears opened training camp Saturday, and Jenkins gave a brief update on his contract talks with general manager Ryan Poles and the front office.
“Last I was told, I’ve gotta wait until after the bye week to reconvene about it,” Jenkins said Monday.
The Bears will take their bye week in Week 7 after their Week 6 trip to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jenkins recognizes how critical this season will be in determining his NFL future. He wants to continue with the Bears, but they want to see if he can stay healthy for most of the season before providing him a big contract.
Jenkins claims he has doubled the amount of money he spends on his physique this season, which includes a chef, a personal physical therapist, and a masseuse.
The Oklahoma State graduate trained alongside Denver Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz and was pleased to see him secure a four-year, $80 million contract deal with the team.
“Love to see him get paid. I’m really excited for him,” Jenkins said. “It’s good overall for the guard market.”
That’s the type of payday Jenkins hopes will await him after this season ends. But he knows he has a lot of hurdles to clear and boxes to check before that vision becomes a reality.
The first step is to get to the Week 7 bye healthy and playing at the elite level the Bears believe he’s capable of consistently reaching.
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