Chicago Bears pending free agents: Who should return?

Jarvis Jenkins — Defensive End

Ryan Pace is fond of signing players to one-year “prove it” type of contracts. One of those contracts was given to defensive end Jarvis Jenkins.

Jenkins was allowed to become a free agent by Washington, even though he was their second round draft pick. He struggled to come back from an ACL injury, and his play suffered.

With the Chicago Bears, Jenkins did prove it, having a pretty good season for the Chicago Bears. He finished the season with 32 tackles (six tackles for loss), 12 quarterback pressures and four sacks.

Jenkins was one of the most effective defensive linemen in 2015. Some would point out that he wore down as the season progressed, but the line (like so many of the Bears units) got hit with the injury bug, and opposing offenses keyed on blocking him, hitting him with a lot of double teams.

Jenkins did not get hit with that injury bug, though he did miss the final game against the Detroit Lions because of an illness. He did play and start in the other fifteen games, however.

Jenkins expressed his enjoyment at playing in Chicago.

"This is one of the best seasons I’ve had statistically-wise, and there was a lot of plays I definitely did leave out there that I should have made. But at the end of the day, man, this has been like a family-oriented place more than anywhere I’ve been. Obviously, I’ve been in Washington before this, but being here, it’s like no other. Just the guys, the camaraderie, just wanting to play for guys. Just guys actually helping you even though they’re playing the same position or not. I feel very family-oriented. I definitely want to be back here next year. Hopefully things work out and I do."

It sounds like Jenkins wants to come back. The Chicago Bears should feel the same way about him coming back.

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