Teven Jenkins wants 'to be a Bear for a long time,' is willing to play wherever he's needed on the offensive line

(670 The Score) As a promising new era has arrived for the Bears, starting left guard Teven Jenkins has no doubt about where he wants to be in the long term.

“I want to be a Bear for a long time,” Jenkins said on 670 The Score in an interview with Mark Grote and Dan Wiederer on Thursday evening.

A second-round pick of the Bears in 2021, Jenkins is entering the final year of his contract in 2024. He’s interested in having contract extension discussions.

“What I got from my agent, we had to wait until after the draft, is all I know,” Jenkins said. “We’re going to try to reach out to them here soon, but right now, we’re playing the waiting game. I want to be a Bear for a long time. I still do. That has not change since I’ve been drafted. But we’re going to see how things unfold and how things play out and just take it day by day. I’m just going to try to be a great leader for the O-line room and a great player for the team.”

Jenkins has been a high-level performer when healthy, but he has had durability issues. He has played in just 31 of a possible 51 regular-season games in his three-year NFL career.

To help address those injury woes, Jenkins explained he has “started to spend a lot more money on my body than in previous years.” His approach has also included more organic food, waking up earlier in the day and more work in the tub to recover.

Jenkins also added that he’s willing play anywhere that he’s needed on the Bears’ offensive line, and he has expressed the sentiment to general manager Ryan Poles. For now, that will continue to be left guard.

“Darnell (Wright) at right (tackle), Nate at right guard, we’re still having a position battle at center, me at left guard and Braxton (Jones) at left tackle right now,” Jenkins said. “I feel like that’s how we’re going to do this offseason right now, and that’s a great line right now to attack this whole offseason.”