National Football League

Jarvis Jenkins aims to start at defensive end for Chicago Bears

Published Jun. 22, 2015 10:47 a.m. ET

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The Chicago Bears signed two free agent defensive ends with starting experience this spring. Ray McDonald was slated to be the starter, and Jarvis Jenkins was in line to be a reserve. Although McDonald has been released from the team, Jenkins still has the same mentality about earning a starting job, according to ESPN's Jeff Dickerson.

"Not at all," Jenkins said about how his chances to start have changed, per ESPN. "Even though he signed here, I still had the mentality I wanted to start. Even though we were in the same position, I was coming in thinking, 'I want to beat this guy. I want to be the starter.' That’s the mentality you've got to have, no matter who’s in front of you or who’s behind you. It’s the same thing if Ego Ferguson is in front of me. I’m going to have the mentality to get in front of him, just as I hope he has the mentality to get in front of me. That’s just that competition, which makes the whole defensive line better."

Jenkins, a second-round pick out of Clemson in the 2011 NFL draft, played his first four professional seasons with the Washington Redskins. He has 33 career starts but only two sacks to show for them.

(h/t ESPN)

Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports