Danny Trevathan Likely To Start 2017 Season On PUP List
The Chicago Bears feel very confident about their new inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman. Both of them showed elite talent in flashes during the 2016 season, but each of them also had their downfalls. Freeman was suspended four games for using PEDs and Trevathan suffered a season-ending ruptured right patellar tendon.
Based on Ryan Pace’s feedback during the season-ending press conference on Wednesday, it sounds like Trevathan could start the season on the PUP list as he continues to recover.
Trevathan suffered the injury in a game in late November when he planted his foot while being blocked. If he were to start the regular season on the PUP list, which is a definite possibility, he would have to miss at least six games to open the year.
If that were to happen he would likely be replaced by Nick Kwiatkoski. The first year linebacker is coming off an impressive rookie season recording 44 tackles, one sack and two pass deflections. The Bears are excited about his future but obviously didn’t expect him to step into a starting role on the defense so soon.
As good as Kwiatkoski looked though, he’s not Trevathan. The five-year veteran veteran was on pace for over 130 tackles after recording 66 in just eight starts. The injury is something Trevathan can fully recover from, according to Pace, but it’s going to take a while.
“It’s an injury he can fully recover from, so I think we’ll be all right,” Pace said.
Trevathan, 26, was one of the prizes of the Bears’ 2016 free-agent class, signing a four-year deal for $24.5 million. He’s already missed half his first season and it looks like Trevathan could miss the first six games of 2017.
This is why I wanted Trevathan to sit our after his injury. I had a feeling something like this would happen during a meaningless season...
Hopefully he'll get better soon.
Oh please! The first injury had nothing to do with the second. If you went by that thought process no player should have played in order to avoid injury.
His first injury was his thumb and he had surgery. He came back from that and then ended up rupturing his patellar tendon. Zero relation to each other.
Not a surprise there. The patella is brutal to come back from. As Pace said, he can fully recover and be fine, but this isn't like the ACL.
Even if he can fully recover, will he ever play like before the injury? Is it worse than Houston's two ruptured ACLs over the past two years?
Yeah, look at Victor Cruz. Him playing like he played before will solely be a mental thing. Thats the biggest hurdle when it comes to these injuries...mentally trusting that you can make that cut, that you can make that quick stop and go.
There's been a lot of new studies about how the brain changes after a knee injury. People stop trusting their instincts and rely more on visual cues because they don't trust the strength of their injured knee. From a physical rehab perspective, yes it's worse than Houston, mentally they are both the same.
Does that uncertainty move ILB up on the draft/FA needs/wants lists?
Probably some . But I'm excited about Kwaitkoski . I think he'll hold the fort just fine , enough that Trevathan being out , won't be that significant a reason for games we lose . Hell he could become the next Doug Buffone .