Bears: 5 players other than Justin Fields facing a make-or-break year

The 2023 season is pivotal for Chicago Bears starting quarterback Justin Fields. He flashed a lot of potential last season with his playmaking ability. Fields was must-see television every time he took off with the ball.

He still needs to get better in the pocket. Fields must improve at getting rid of the ball quicker, hitting his check-down passes, and reading defenses.

It is also a make-or-break year because general manager Ryan Poles must decide if he wants to pick up Fields’ fifth-year option after the season. Also, the Chicago Bears will not go anywhere unless Fields takes the next step toward becoming an MVP quarterback.

He is not the only player who has to prove himself this season (or in the preseason). Five other Chicago Bears players need to put together a good campaign if they hope to get a second contract with the team.

In the case of two players, they need to have a good training camp just to make the team. These are the five players (not named Fields) to watch:

Teven Jenkins must prove he can stay healthy.

The Chicago Bears need a lot more from Teven Jenkins going forward.

Jenkins started last year’s training camp with a better chance of getting cut or traded than earning a starting job on the offensive line.

He won the starting right guard job and turned out to be the best offensive lineman on the team. He earned a respectable 80.7 rating from Pro Football Focus.

Jenkins was a wrecking ball in run blocking. He only gave up two sacks on an offensive line that allowed Justin Fields to be sacked more than 50 times.

Injuries limited him to 11 starts and appearances in two more games. A back injury limited him to just six games during his rookie season the year before.

One thing Ryan Poles values in a player is availability. Jenkins needs to prove this season that he can be counted on to play. If Jenkins wants to get a contract extension after the season, he will need to show he can take as many snaps as possible.

He will also be counted on to help second-year tackle Braxton Jones improve in pass blocking. Jenkins helped center Sam Mustipher improve his play by taking on the majority of the interior blocks on the right side.

Now that Jenkins is kicking over to left guard, he will be counted on to help Jones on edge rushers trying to counter him with an inside move. Well, that is if a pass rusher has to use a counter move as Jones struggled last season with a simple bull rush move.