Teven Jenkins

BIOGRAPHY

Teven Bradlee Jenkins is a notable name in the roster of football stars of the current day. Born on March 3, 1998, in Topeka, Kansas, Jenkins took his first steps on the path toward a professional career as a guard for the renowned Chicago Bears team in America’s most-watched sports league, the National Football League (NFL). This extensive biography delineates Jenkins’ journey from a high school sports enthusiast to his distinguished position in the NFL.

Intriguingly, Jenkins was not always a football player. As a high school attendee, he displayed a broad and comprehensive range of athletic skills. Jenkins, during his high school days at Topeka High School, played baseball and basketball alongside football. His talent shone brightest in his junior and senior seasons when he earned the title of All-State, making him a highly prized future prospect.

Not surprising, the three-star recruit, Jenkins, found himself having to make a tough choice over which college to attend, having received offers from Kansas State, Louisville, Missouri, and Nebraska. Having decided to commit his college career to football, he made the decision to play for Oklahoma State.

At Oklahoma State, Jenkins took a redshirt in his first year. The following year, he achieved impressive feats, playing twelve games with three significant starts. As he advanced into his redshirt sophomore season, Jenkins was announced as the starting right tackle for the Cowboys, paving the way for his subsequent recognition as an honorable mention in the All-Big 12 Conference. This honor was due to his remarkable performance, starting all 13 games for his team, with three starts coming in as left tackle owing to an injury sustained by Arlington Hambright, the regular starter.

Jenkins’ evolution as a footballer continued into his redshirt junior season, where he was once again named as an honorable mention in the All-Big 12. His senior year saw him being named in the 2020 All-Big 12 Conference football team, heralding his transition into an NFL career.

In the second round of the 2021 NFL draft, Jenkins was the 39th overall pick and was selected by the Chicago Bears. He signed his four-year rookie contract with the team on June 16, 2021. A few months later, in September, he underwent back surgery and was restated on injured reserve, but he returned to the field by December, playing special teams against the Arizona Cardinals.

Jenkins’ NFL career saw a shift in his positioning at the start of the 2022 preseason when the Bears moved him from offensive tackle to right guard, a position he held in 11 games before being again placed on injured reserve in January 2023.

Consequently, the year 2023 brought about another transition in Jenkins’ playing position from right guard to left guard. This was a deliberate decision he announced on April 11, swapping places with Nate Davis, the offseason signee. Unfortunately, a calf injury led to Jenkins being placed on injured reserve once more on August 31, 2023. However, showing his resilience and passion for the game, Jenkins was back on the field, activated for a Week 5 game against the Washington Commanders.

Jenkins’ journey from a high school student trying out different sports, to his transition into a professional NFL player, has been marked by remarkable accolades, pivotal transitions, and a few injuries. While his journey has been far from easy, it undoubtedly underscored his undeniable talent and relentless passion for the game of football.