Report: Teven Jenkins Could Be Out an Extended Period

So much for the idea of the Bears offensive line going intact into the regular season.

Left guard Jenkins could miss as much as six weeks with a leg injury according to a report Sunday by Chicago Tribune Bears writer Brad Biggs.

Jenkins was practicing in Indianapolis last week but did not play. Then again, only two of the 22 Bears starters played in the game and the team does not announce injuries in the preseason.

The Tribune story said the injury could even force the Bears to put Jenkins on IR. Players on IR have to stay out a minimum of four games of the regular season.

The Bears have depth at guard but the depth is being severely tested at the moment. Backup guard and center Lucas Patrick has been out over a week with an unreported injury.

Right guard Nate Davis had missed more than two weeks of practices but returned last week and while he was gone second-year guard Ja'Tyre Carter took his place at many practices.

Dieter Eiselen has played guard in the past for the Bears and is still on the roster.

The Bears have moved left guard Cody Whitehair back to his original position of center this year. They could always move him back to left guard and use Patrick or Doug Kramer at center. However, at the moment Whitehair is also hurt. He missed practices before the Saturday Colts-Bears game, but coach Matt Eberflus said he didn't consider it a serious injury.

They also have veteran Alex Leatherwood playing left guard with the backups. He came into the league as a tackle but the Raiders moved him to guard after he had problems at tackle. The Bears tried him at tackle as well.

More could be known about the injury after Tuesday's practice, which is the next time Matt The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Eberflus is scheduled to talk to media.

Jenkins had an injury earlier in camp and missed a few days of practice but it's not known whether this situation is related to that injury.

Back and neck issues have cost Jenkins playing time in the past. Their second-round pick in 2021, he has missed 15 of a possible 34 games in two seasons for medical reasons.

Injuries last year were the main reason the offensive line had to switch starting lineups for nine games last season.