Jimbo Covert Warns Bears Are Mishandling Teven Jenkins
Jimbo Covert is a Hall of Fame left tackle. The last truly great one the Chicago Bears have employed in their long history. What makes it all the more impressive is that he did it despite his career being shortened by injuries. That experience is something that has lived with him since. The feel he made some serious mistakes in how he handled rehab in those days, leading to those injuries becoming even worse.
This is why Covert feels the Bears are making a mistake in letting rookie 2nd round pick Teven Jenkins return to action this season. Jenkins suffered a back injury at some point during the summer. After trying to work through it and admittedly aggravating it further, the team put him on Injured Reserve. From there he underwent surgery to correct the problem. After over four months of rehab, he returned this past week.
Covert, for one, isn’t a fan of that decision.
He appeared on the Upon Further Review podcast with Zach Brook. They discussed several topics including the recent success of Pitt University QB Kenny Pickett as well as Justin Fields. When asked about Jenkins being able to return for the final month of the season? Covert wasn’t as encouraged as others might be. Bitter experience taught him that the far smarter decision should be to keep the rookie off the field until next year.
“I just wish he would just stay out. I just feel like those back injuries, you know, I had one. It crippled me at the end of my career. You know it’s just difficult. Not my call, obviously. Everybody just says, ‘He’s healthy! He’s healthy!’ But they’ve never had back surgery before. I’ve had two of them. You’re never the same. You want to get back to being 100%. You don’t want to go out there at 70-80% and feel like you’re protecting yourself. Then you get hurt and that’s just a bad thing.”
It is hard to argue with Covert’s reasoning. He understands back injuries more than most. They can be devastating to the career of an offensive lineman. The man admitted that he was never the same after his injury. He wasn’t able to play the same powerful, mauling style that made him so great. A style that Jenkins also happens to be known for. Maybe things would’ve been different had Covert let the injury heal completely. He doesn’t want the kid making a similar mistake.
Jimbo Covert concerns might be echoed by Bears
They’ve seemed reluctant to get Jenkins some significant snaps so far since returning. He only did two on field goal protection duties against Arizona. Head coach Matt Nagy stated the plan moving forward is for Jason Peters to remain the starter at left tackle and for Jenkins to be his backup. Offensive line coach Juan Castillo echoed the caution, sounding like somebody who feels the kid needs more time to regain his old form.
That at least is something. It might not be the complete measure Jimbo Covert was hoping for, but it at least suggests the Bears have no plans to throw him out there until they’re certain he is ready. Probably a wise decision, both for his own health and that of the quarterback he’ll be assigned to protect. It will be interesting if they look to get him some work once it is clear the playoffs aren’t happening this year.
Not an easy decision.
Nobody can guarantee if Jenkins will be the same player he was prior to having that surgery. Back injuries can be dangerous. Especially for bigger guys in the NFL. Covert is merely trying to ensure the kid has every opportunity to realize his full potential. Sitting out until next summer would all but guarantee his injury is fully healed.