‘That’s what we need more of’: Teven Jenkins stands up for Justin Fields

CHICAGO – Justin Fields loved that his left tackle stood up for him. He just wished that it didn’t come at the cost of a penalty.

Midway through the third quarter of Monday night’s 17-9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Vikings defensive end D.J. Wonnum pushed Fields out of bounds with a hit that was questionably late. The refs didn’t throw a penalty flag, but Bears left tackle Teven Jenkins made sure everyone knew how he felt.

Jenkins defended his quarterback. He found himself in a shoving match with Wonnum and several other Vikings. He drew a penalty for unnecessary roughness.

“I was telling him I liked what he did there,” Fields said. “I appreciate it, but at the same time he has to be smart. I definitely love the mindset and I love him sticking up for me. I think that’s what we need more of. I love it, just do it between the whistles.”

It was the most fight the Bears offense showed all night.

Unfortunately, Bears right tackle Germain Ifedi didn’t appear to like it as much. He gave Jenkins a push after the play and some sort of disagreement spilled over to the Bears sideline after the possession was over.

“Like after that one, I went around and talked to all the guys and just said, ‘OK, it’s time to reel it back in, all of us, myself included,’” Nagy said. “It’s time to reel it back in. I love the fight. I love their energy.”

Nagy had to reel it in himself because he was penalized earlier in the game after a disagreement about a flag the refs did throw against his defense. Bears safety Deon Bush drew a penalty for hitting a Vikings receiver in the head. It looked like, however, that Bush made the hit arms first, hands extended, and did it making a play on the ball.

Nagy had a right to be upset about the play. Referee Scott Novak said he flagged Nagy for using “inappropriate language.”

“With a defenseless receiver, the defender is always responsible for avoiding any illegal contact or illegal act,” Novak said. “And when he makes contact with the head, even if he’s going for the ball, it’s still a foul.”

Bush declined to say much about the play other than he needed to go back and watch the tape. In total, the Bears were penalized nine times for 91 yards.