Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
Any news on why Teven Jenkins was held out of last Sunday's game in Atlanta?
Eric R.
Austin, Texas
After missing the Lions game with a hip injury a week earlier, right guard Teven Jenkins returned to practice last week and was a full participant in last Friday's workout. But he told coaches that he wasn't 100 percent and could play on an emergency basis. That's why veteran Michael Schofield III started versus the Falcons. Here's what coach Matt Eberflus said after the game: "Teven, before the game, said, 'Hey, I'm able. I'm still a little bit hurt, but I'm able to be in there as a backup, if needed, in an emergency.' So that's where he was. That's why he didn't rotate. If he was a little bit better, we would've rotated him in there."
I read in one of your stories this week that Justin Fields is fifth in the NFL in rushing. Has a quarterback ever finished in the top five?
Roger W.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
No, a quarterback has never finished a season among the NFL's top five rushers. The highest a quarterback has ranked was sixth in 2019 when the Ravens' Lamar Jackson set a league record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,206. With 834 yards, Justin Fields entered Week 12 fifth in rushing behind the Titans' Derrick Henry (1,010), the Giants' Saquon Barkley (953), the Raiders' Josh Jacobs (930) and the Browns' Nick Chubb (923).
While former Bears quarterback Bobby Douglass was a very good runner, didn't he also throw a long touchdown pass with a broken arm back in the day?
Jim F.
Sunnyvale, California
Yes, Bobby Douglass actually threw four touchdown passes of 36, 36, 53 and 28 yards with a broken wrist on his left throwing arm in a 31-13 win over the Buffalo Bills Nov. 22, 1970, at Wrigley Field. He sustained the injury late in the first quarter when he tried to brace himself while getting sacked. X-rays showed later that night that he had sustained a fracture that ended his season—but not before throwing four TD passes in his first and only start of the 1970 campaign. Douglass had been backing up Jack Concannon and was given the start against the Bills because coach Jim Dooley was hoping for better play from the quarterback position.
