The Chicago Bears' upcoming opponents, the Cleveland Browns, have a laundry list of injuries that might result in the Windy City facing a familiar face from the other sideline.
Cleveland is dealing with multiple injuries at guard, including starters Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, who have not practiced this week and are looking likely to be out for the game. That means the Browns might have to start a former Bears draft pick for the second straight game: Teven Jenkins.
On that same injury report, Jenkins was also added with a shoulder injury, but did practice on a limited basis. He made his first start of the season for Cleveland in the 31-29 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
This is quite the injury report for the Cleveland Browns, who added Teven Jenkins and Shelby Harris to it today: pic.twitter.com/lu5UwBp3qE
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) December 11, 2025
Bears might have to face an old familiar face on the Browns
Chicago drafted Jenkins in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, as he started 39 of 58 games for the Bears in his career. He had started games at tackle, right guard, and left guard for Chicago, primarily at left guard over the last three seasons.
He never turned out to be the pick the Bears were hoping he would be. A decent starter at best, but not one that played well, especially last year, as he was part of the line that saw quarterback Caleb Williams get sacked an NFL-high 68 times.
Jenkins signed with the Browns over the offseason to serve as a backup for Cleveland. He has made just one start in 13 games he has appeared in this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Jenkins has an overall grade of 75.3, but has not taken enough snaps to be graded among the rest of the interior offensive linemen in the NFL.
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This could be the opportunity, with multiple starters on the Browns' offensive line out with injuries, including two starting guards and their starting center, to get pressure on Cleveland's quarterback, Shedeur Sanders. Jenkins will have to stop them, but the Beras might have an advantage since they know him well.