Teven Jenkins earns spot on Pro Football Focus’ 2023 All-Breakout Team

Chicago Bears guard Teven Jenkins will play a new position in 2023, switching from right guard to left after the team signed Nate Davis in free agency. And while there’s a chance flipping from right to left will create early-season growing pains, the arrow is still pointing way up on Jenkins’ long-term outlook.

In fact, a breakout season could be in the cards for the former 2021 second-round pick.

Pro Football Focus recently published their 2023 All-Breakout Team, and Jenkins got the nod at one of the two guards spots.

“As a rookie second-round tackle in 2021, Jenkins didn’t make his NFL debut until Week 14 and had a lot of struggles, finishing with a 47.5 offensive grade, a 62.7 run-blocking grade and a 54.6 pass-blocking grade,” PFF wrote. “He kicked inside to guard in 2022, and his performance improved dramatically, as he put up an 80.7 offensive grade, a 82.2 run-blocking grade and a 65.9 pass-blocking grade. With a full season as a guard under his belt, look for Jenkins to continue to make strides toward becoming one of the top linemen in the league.”

Jenkins” tenure with the Bears hasn’t always been smooth. His rookie season was nearly lost because of a back injury that limited him to six games and two starts. In 2022, Jenkins was the center of trade speculation during training camp but worked his way into GM Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus” good graces and eventually, the starting lineup.

In 2023, Jenkins faces a new challenge kicking over to the left side.

“As long as I got a job, I’m going to be happy,” Jenkins said, via NBC Sports Chicago. “There wasn’t reason to feel any sort of way about it. I’ve played the left side before. I just took it and ran with it, basically.

‘This is just another chance for me to show that I can be versatile at another position.”

If Teven Jenkins has the breakout season PFF is projecting, he’ll set himself up nicely for a massive second contract in the offseason. Jenkins is entering the third year of his four-year rookie contract. He’ll be eligible for a contract extension in 2024.