The Bears on Thursday placed veteran defensive tackle John Jenkins on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Jenkins signed a one-year contract with the Bears April 28, returning for a second stint with the team. The 6-3, 327-pounder appeared in eight games with one start for the Bears in 2017, recording eight tackles.
Jenkins has appeared in 82 career NFL games with 29 starts over seven seasons, registering 155 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 8.0 tackles-for-loss. In addition to the Bears, he has also played for the Saints (2013-16), Seahawks (2016), Giants (2018) and Dolphins (2019).
Last year Jenkins appeared in all 16 games with five starts for Miami, registering 34 tackles, 1.0 sack and 2.0 tackles-for-loss.
Jenkins was selected by the Saints in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Georgia. At the time, Bears general manager Ryan Pace worked in New Orleans' personnel department. Jenkins appeared in 49 games with 22 starts in three-and-a-half seasons with the Saints.
The NFL's new reserve/COVID-19 list category was created for players who either test positive for COVID-19 or who have been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person. If a player falls into either of these categories, his club is required to immediately place the player on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and that player is not counted on the active roster.
Per agreed upon NFL-NFLPA policy, teams are not permitted to comment on a player's medical status other than referring to roster status. That includes not disclosing whether players are in quarantine or have tested positive for COVID-19.
Jenkins is the third Bears player to be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, joining third-year tight end Eric Saubert and undrafted rookie running back Artavis Pierce.
