Top 25 Bears in 2022: No. 13 Teven Jenkins New regime not overwhelmed with Jenkins to date

We're counting down the Top 25 most important Bears for the 2022 season.

What makes one player more important than another? That's subjective, of course. But for our purposes it comes down to this: Are the Bears worse off if this player can't play? Does this player have untapped potential or past greatness to live up to? Is his story going to be one fans follow closely this season?

No. 13 Teven Jenkins

Position: Offensive tackle

NFL experience: Second season

Last year's ranking: No. 6

Looking back: In spring of 2021, many mock drafts had the Bears selecting Teven Jenkins, a tackle out of Oklahoma State, with the 20th overall pick. Instead, they traded that 20th pick - and a package of additional picks - to move up and to select quarterback Justin Fields.

Jenkins slipped and slipped until former general manager Ryan Pace again traded up on day two, this time to 39th overall, and took Jenkins. The old regime dubbed him the left tackle of the future.

Those plans, however, quickly went awry. Jenkins participated in the spring practice period without any apparent issues, but then showed up to training camp with a back injury. The injury eventually required surgery and Jenkins missed nearly the entire season. He returned late in the year and appeared in the final six games, making two starts.

Looking forward: New head coach Matt Eberflus arrived talking about a clean slate for everyone.

Clean slates, it turns out, aren't always a good thing. Jenkins is the best example of a player the previous decision-makers felt highly about, but who GM Ryan Poles and the new front office haven't committed to.

The Bears experimented with their offensive line throughout the spring, trying all sorts of combinations. That included relegating Jenkins to second team for several practices. Jenkins has spent most of his time at right tackle under the new coaching staff.

It would be a blow to the organization if its second-round pick from a year ago winds up on the bench.

Second-round picks are expected to be starters in this league. It would be yet another indictment of the Pace era. It would also mean the Bears are likely starting a rookie fifth-round draft pick in Braxton Jones at left tackle. While that's great for Jones, it doesn't bode well for Justin Fields' health in 2022.

It still feels more likely Jenkins will start at right tackle, with Larry Borom at left tackle, when Week 1 arrives. But that's far from a sure thing.