Bears Discussing T Teven Jenkins In Trades
The Bears taking Teven Jenkins in the 2021 second round has not led him to be a surefire answer at one of their tackle spots. With a new regime in place, the team looks to be exploring what it could get for one of the previous regime’s top investments.
Jenkins’ name has come up in trade talks, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Bears have both received calls and held trade discussions on Jenkins, who has three years left on his contract.
After Jenkins went through an injury-abbreviated rookie season, he did not finish this offseason working primarily with the first unit. The Bears were using Braxton Jones, a rookie fifth-rounder, at left tackle and Larry Borom, a 2021 fifth-round choice, as their first-string tackles. Chicago has since signed Riley Reiff. The 10-year veteran has worked as a starter throughout his career, and he should be expected to be a starter at one of the Bears’ tackle spots. Reiff has played both left and right tackle as a pro.
Chosen 39th overall last year, Jenkins was ticketed to be one of the Bears’ tackle starters as a rookie. The Ryan Pace regime traded a third-round pick and its No. 52 overall selection to move up 13 spots for the Oklahoma State blocker. But a back injury suffered during last year’s training camp changed the team’s plans. Jenkins underwent surgery last August, leading the team to go with veteran Jason Peters on the edge, and did not debut until late November. Jenkins did make two starts as a rookie, but the Bears fired both Pace and Matt Nagy at season’s end. The Ryan Poles–Matt Eberflus regime does not appear as high on Jenkins.
A possible path for Jenkins at guard has also surfaced, potentially giving the 6-foot-6 blocker some additional value in trades. Should a team move to acquire Jenkins, it would have him on base salaries worth $1MM, $1.4MM and $1.8MM through 2024. The Bears would save just more than $1MM if they moved him.
NFL Injury Updates: Woods, Patrick, Adams, Stingley
With Tennessee trading wide receiver A.J. Brown during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft in order to select Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks, the Titans will now look to former Bills and Rams wide receiver Robert Woods to serve as the team’s No. 1 receiving option. This puts lots of pressure on Woods as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered in practice last November. 
While Woods was acquired for a sixth-round pick and Burks was acquired with a first (via the Brown-trade), Woods nine years as a starter and veteran experience places him atop the depth chart over the rookie, Burks, for now. Woods had been experiencing a run of the best football of his career over the last four years. Since 2018, Woods has recorded season receiving totals of 1,219 yards, 1,134 yards, and 936 yards, all higher than any totals from his first five years in the league. He also reached six receiving touchdowns twice in that span, setting new career highs there, as well. At a pace of 61.78 receiving yards per game before his injury last year, Woods was set for his third 1,000-yard season in four years, and, with five total touchdowns, was on pace to set a new career high in scoring, as well.
The good news is that Woods has been full-go at Titans camp so far this month, according to Ben Arthur of The Tennessean. Not only is Woods out there taking live reps at practice, but he’s using the off-periods to work with quarterback Ryan Tannehill on timing and chemistry.
“It’s strong enough. It’s repaired. It’s healed,” Woods said in regards to his knee. “So my mentality going out here and practicing is push it and go. You almost want to like push it to the limit and see what you can do and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NFL this preseason, starting with an update out of the Windy City:
- It appears that Bears center Lucas Patrick will require surgery on his right hand, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. The former Packer is expected to start for new Chicago offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, as he did during their time together in Green Bay. While surgery will take him out of the lineup for a few weeks, the hope is that, by treating it this early in training camp, Patrick will be able to possibly return before the season opener.
- While it was originally expected that Seahawks safety Jamal Adams would miss time while dealing with previous hand injuries, further reports reveal that he is expected to return to practice soon, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Adams has been dealing with finger injuries for quite some time and, recently, broke a finger when it got stuck in a helmet during practice. Any surgery that may be required will be pushed to the offseason and, for now, he will return to the field “with a club and a special cast for games.”
- The Texans’ No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., is attempting to bounce back from nagging injuries that limited him to only 10 games of action in his final two years of college. Houston was impressed enough with his freshman year numbers of six interceptions and 21 passes defensed to make him the first cornerback off the board from an impressive group of defensive backs. They also are hoping his injury woes have ended as head coach Lovie Smith said he expects the 21-year-old to be ready for the regular season opener, according to Mark Berman of Fox Sports.
Contract Details: Godchaux, Reiff, Alexander
Some recent deals and extensions have been signed around the NFL. We’ve provided some updates on those contracts below:
- Davon Godchaux, DT (Patriots): Two-year, $20.8MM extension, including $17.85MM guaranteed. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss (on Twitter), Godchaux got a $10.5MM signing bonus, and he’ll have a base salary worth $1.5MM in 2022. The extension reduced the defensive lineman’s cap hit from $10.25MM to $8.75MM.
- Riley Reiff, OT (Bears): One-year deal worth a maximum amount of $12.5MM ($10MM likely to be earned). Per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), the Bears structured Reiff’s contract in such a way that it will count for just $3MM against the cap next season. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune provides more details on Twitter, noting that the lineman will earn a $3MM base salary, and he’ll earn another $4.5MM if he’s on the field for 10% of his team’s offense snaps. There are also incentives tied to offensive categories and a playoff appearance.
- Kwon Alexander, LB (Jets): One-year deal. Contract is worth $1.12MM with a $152K signing bonus, according to Connor Hughes of The Athletic (on Twitter). His cap hit will be around that $1.12MM mark for the 2022 campaign.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/29/22
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Duke Dawson
Chicago Bears
- Activated from active/PUP list: DL Sam Kamara
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed (from Jets): S Jovante Moffatt
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from active/PUP list: CB Quandre Mosely
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from active/NFI list: WR Sammy Watkins
- Activated from active/PUP list: LB Randy Ramsey, OL Rasheed Walker
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Caeveon Patton
- Released: DE Bryan Cox Jr.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: K Elliott Fry
- Waived: K Andrew Mevis
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: RB Trey Ragas
- Waived/injured: RB Xavier Jones
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Josh Hammond
- Activated from active/PUP list: C David Andrews, P Jake Bailey
New York Jets
- Waived: LB Javin White
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Tomasi Laulile
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: TE Bug Howard
- Waived: P Sterling Hofrichter
- Activated from active/PUP list: G Sadarius Hutcherson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Shakur Brown
Signed as a UDFA shortly after the draft, Mevis fared rather poorly in a Thursday workout. The rookie kicker missed badly on three warmup kicks, one of which drilling ex-Cowboys HC Dave Campo (of Hard Knocks 2002 fame), per ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco. Mevis had struggled during the start of Jaguars camp. This is Fry’s seventh NFL team since he entered the league in 2019. The workout-circuit regular has played in three regular-season games — one-offs with the Falcons, Bengals and Chiefs. The Jags also have kicker Ryan Santoso on their roster.
A hamstring injury, sustained during a workout shortly after a flight to Green Bay, sidelined Watkins for the start of Packers camp. The veteran will try to shake a well-earned injury-prone label in Green Bay, though the former top-five pick’s roster spot may not be 100% secure. Andrews, who returned in 2020 after missing all of the 2019 season due to blood clots, underwent offseason shoulder surgery. He is back for a seventh season as the Patriots’ starting center.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/27/22
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released from reserve/NFI: TE Alex Ellis
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Darrion Daniels
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Bailey Gaither
- Placed on NFI: G Ben Cleveland
Chicago Bears
- Placed on PUP: DL Sam Kamara, LB Roquan Smith
- Placed on NFI: S Dane Cruikshank, CB Michael Joseph, WR Tajae Sharpe
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: QB Drew Plitt
- Waived: CB John Brannon
- Activated from PUP: G Alex Cappa, RB Samaje Perine
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on PUP: WR Dontario Drummond, WR Michael Gallup, LB Aaron Hansford, CB Quandre Mosely
- Placed on NFI: LB Damone Clark
Detroit Lions
- Placed on PUP: FB Jason Cabinda
- Placed on NFI: S C.J. Moore
- Placed on non-football illness: T Dan Skipper
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: Ishmael Hyman
- Released: LB Caliph Brice
- Activated from PUP: OT Caleb Jones, DE Dean Lowry, RB Patrick Taylor
Houston Texans
- Placed on PUP: DE Jordan Jenkins, DB Tristin McCollum, TE Teagan Quitoriano
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from PUP: DL Tyquan Lewis, S Rodney McLeod
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released (failed physical designation): DT Cortez Broughton
- Activated from PUP: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Tino Ellis
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from PUP: Nick Vannett
- Placed on NFI: LB Pete Werner
New York Giants
- Signed: OT Garrett McGhin
- Waived (failure to disclose physical condition designation): OT Kamaal Seymour
- Activated from PUP: TE Daniel Bellinger
New York Jets
- Signed: DB Luq Barcoo
- Waived: DB Jovante Moffat
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on PUP: DE Tyson Alualu
- Placed on NFI: S Minkah Fitzpatrick
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OL Keenan Forbes, G Eric Wilson
Bears’ Robert Quinn Not Seeking Trade
Mentioned in trade rumors for much of this offseason, Robert Quinn not showing up for the Bears’ minicamp added fuel to the prospect he would be the next front-seven mainstay to be dealt out of Chicago. But Quinn said Wednesday he is not seeking to be moved.
“Yeah, I never expected to go anywhere,” Quinn said (via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin, on Twitter) when asked if he wanted to be traded. “I’ve been traded twice. You get tired of moving. … I expect to be here, but if not, that’s out of my control.”
The Bears stripped most of the veteran contracts from their front seven this offseason. They traded Khalil Mack, released Danny Trevathan and Eddie Goldman and let Akiem Hicks walk in free agency (to the Buccaneers). During the spring, Quinn was connected to a potential trade request. That had teams monitoring this situation. Quinn’s age (32) and cap number ($17.9MM, the league’s 13th-highest defensive cap hit) do not exactly make him a fit for a Bears rebuild, but he put together one of the best seasons of his career in Chicago.
Quinn, who broke Richard Dent‘s 37-year-old single-season franchise sack record last year by registering 18.5, said his minicamp absence was “More just trying to take care of my body.” Most veterans do not take this route, which means losing upwards of $90K. But Quinn is at Bears training camp, avoiding the fines that come with missing these workouts, and remains under Bears control through 2024. New GM Ryan Poles said he has not discussed a potential trade with Quinn.
No more guaranteed money remains on Quinn’s deal, however, and trade rumors likely will not cease. Previous Quinn trades occurred in 2018, when the Dolphins acquired him from the Rams for fourth- and sixth-round picks in a partial pick-swap deal, and 2020. The Cowboys obtained Quinn for a sixth-rounder. Quinn’s 2021 production still makes him a viable trade chip for a Bears team that could use future assets to add younger talent.
At worst, the 12th-year defender would make sense as a quality complementary edge rusher. Quinn’s base salary ($12.8MM) would limit what the Bears could receive in a trade, unless Chicago agreed to pay part of the salary to improve compensation. Absent a trade, Quinn will enter the 2022 season as the Bears’ top defensive lineman.
Bears Sign S Jaquan Brisker, Wrap Up Draft Class
The Bears have officially signed their entire draft class. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reports (on Twitter) that the Bears have signed second-round safety Jaquan Brisker.
Following a freshman season at Lackawanna, Brisker transferred to Penn State. He ended up spending three seasons with the Nittany Lions, seeing time in 34 games. He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and a second-team All-American nod in 2021 after finishing with 38 tackles, six tackles for loss, five passes defended, and two interceptions.
The Bears selected Brisker with the No. 46 pick in the 2022 draft, making him the fifth cornerback off the board. Chicago used the second-round selection that they acquired in the Khalil Mack deal with Los Angeles. The rookie is expected to slide into the starting lineup, with Dane Cruikshank and Michael Joseph providing depth at strong safety.
“I gave him a big hug when I saw him,” GM Ryan Poles said today. “He’s headed in the right direction and I’m excited to see what he does this training camp.”
With the signing, the Bears have signed their entire draft class:
Round 2: No. 39 Kyler Gordon, CB (Washington) (signed)
Round 2: No. 48 (from Chargers) Jaquan Brisker, S (Penn State) (signed)
Round 3: No. 71 Velus Jones, WR (Tennessee) (signed)
Round 5: No. 168 (from Bills) Braxton Jones, OT (Southern Utah State) (signed)
Round 5: No. 174 (from Bengals): Dominique Robinson, OLB (Miami University) (signed)
Round 6: No. 186 Zach Thomas, OG (San Diego State) (signed)
Round 6: No. 203 (from Bills) Trestan Ebner, RB (Baylor) (signed)
Round 6: No. 207 (from 49ers through Jets and Texans): Doug Kramer, OG (Illinois) (signed)
Round 7: No. 226 (from Giants through Bengals): Ja’Tyre Carter, C (Southern) (signed)
Round 7: No. 254 (from Chargers) Elijah Hicks, S (California) (signed)
Round 7: No. 255 (from Chargers) Trenton Gill, P (NC State) (signed)
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/26/22
Today’s minor NFL transactions, including a handful of notable names landing on the physically unable to perform list and the non-football injury list as teams open up camp:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on NFI: WR Marquise Brown
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DB Allie Green, OL Willie Wright
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on PUP: OT Jack Conklin, CB Denzel Ward
- Placed on NFI: DT Sheldon Day, LB Anthony Walker Jr.
- Placed on non-football illness: WR Javon Wims
Denver Broncos
- Placed on PUP: LB Randy Gregory, WR KJ Hamler, OL Billy Turner
- Placed on NFI : LB Christopher Allen
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: OL Ty Clary, WR Osirus Mitchell
- Placed on NFI: WR Sammy Watkins
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Isaiah Ford, WR John Hurst
- Waived: WR Kekoa Crawford, DT Caeveon Patton
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on PUP: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from NFI: DT Vernon Butler
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on PUP: LB Kenneth Murray
Miami Dolphins
- Released with NFI designation: WR Cody Core
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on NFI: CB Nate Hairston
New England Patriots
- Released: C Darryl Williams
- Activated from PUP: LB Raekwon McMillan
- Placed on NFI: CB Myles Bryant
New Orleans Saints
- Released: OL Derek Schweiger
- Placed on NFI: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, TE Nick Vannett
New York Giants
- Signed: S Andrew Adams, WR Marcus Kemp, OT Kamaal Seymour
- Released: DB Maurice Canady
- Waived: DB Henry Black, DT Jabari Ellis, WR Travis Toivonen
- Placed on PUP: C Nick Gates, OT Matt Peart, WR Sterling Shepard
- Placed on NFI: LB Azeez Ojulari
New York Jets
- Signed: WR/PR Rashard Davis, QB Chris Streveler, OL Isaiah Williams
- Released: CB Craig James, WR D.J. Montgomery, OL Dru Samia
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Jaedan Graham, DT Kobe Smith
- Waived: WR Josh Hammond
- Waived with NFI desgination: DT Noah Elliss
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on NFI: S Minkah Fitzpatrick
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DT Robert Nkemidiche
- Placed on PUP: CB Jason Verrett, TE Charlie Woerner
- Placed on NFI: DT Kalia Davis
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Jake Hausmann
- Waived with failed physical designation: LB Ben Burr-Kirven
- Placed on PUP: CB Tre Brown, LB Jon Rhattigan, OT Liam Ryan, OLB Tyreke Smith
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: TE Codey McElroy
Washington Commanders
- Placed on PUP: C Tyler Larsen, C Chase Roullier, TE Logan Thomas, DE Chase Young
- Placed on NFI: OT Cornelius Lucas
Bears’ Robert Quinn Reports To Training Camp; Latest On Trade Potential
One high-profile member of the Bears’ front seven made headlines yesterday, and today, another is in the news. Robert Quinn has reported to training camp, as noted by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).
[RELATED: Roquan Smith Won’t Participate In Bears’ Camp]
The 32-year-old did not attend mandatory minicamp in June. Given the fact that his decision was unexcused, speculation was only further fuelled with respect to his desire to remain in Chicago, where he has been for the past two years. Quinn earned his second career Pro Bowl nod last season, with a resurgent 18.5-sack campaign.
It was reported in May that he wanted out of Chicago – something which wouldn’t come as a surprise, considering his age and production, along with the fact that the Bears are rebuilding. He is under contract for three more seasons, with cap hits between $17.1MM and $18.2MM. There is no guaranteed money left on his deal, however.
Teams have thus been keeping an eye on Quinn’s availability if new GM Ryan Poles makes a trade a possibility. When asked about the subject of Quinn’s intentions, Poles said, “I haven’t had that [conversation] with him. I would hope that he wants to be here. Nothing’s changed on that part” (Twitter link via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin).
The Bears have either traded (Khalil Mack), cut (Danny Trevathan, Eddie Goldman) or elected not to re-sign (Akiem Hicks) several big-name members of their defense already this offseason. Moving on from Quinn would therefore be a matter of continuing to offload sizable contracts, though it remains to be seen how willing the new front office is willing to do so in his case. Like with Roquan Smith, Quinn’s level of participation in camp will be the subject of scrutiny.
Bears To Sign OT Riley Reiff
The remodelling of Chicago’s offensive line continues. The Bears are signing veteran tackle Riley Reiff, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). 
The one-year pact carries a maximum value of $12.5MM, with $10MM of that total considered likely to be earned, Schefter adds. This marks the second straight offseason in which he joins a new team on a one-year free agent deal, albeit he is doing so far later this year than last. Reiff previously worked out with the Jets, who made an offer, but no deal ever came to fruition.
The 33-year-old joined the Bengals last year, on a contract which was smaller than the one he is signing now. He started all 12 games he appeared in, before being sidelined with an injury in December. He earned a PFF grade of 67.3, continuing his career trend of solid, yet unspectacular, play.
Another notable aspect of Reiff’s play last season, of course, was the fact that he played right tackle, after manning the blindside during his tenure in Minnesota. He didn’t live up to the expectations associated with the five-year, $58.75MM contract he signed to join the Vikings, but will provide starting-caliber play for the Bears’ new-look offensive front.
Chicago signed fellow veteran blocker Michael Schofield yesterday. It remains to be seen where he and Reiff will line up, but their additions should help protect Justin Fields better in his second season.