Back in the spring when the Chicago Bears selected Roquan Smith #8 overall, all eyes immediately turned to Nick Kwiatkoski. The third-year linebacker was expected to take over as a starter when Jerrell Freeman was cut and Christian Jones left for free agency. It made sense. He had starting experience and had shown steady progress. It seemed like he’d earned his shot. Then Smith arrived.
People immediately assumed Kwiatkoski’s hopes had been crushed. Yet as time has gone on and the preseason approaches, they may have spoken too soon. It’s not him who could end up losing his chance to be a long-term starter for the Bears. Instead it’s the man everybody thought was untouchable going into this year: Danny Trevathan.
The veteran just turned 28-years old and has been with the Bears since 2016. Over that span, he’s been their most consistent player at inside linebacker. When he’s on the field, he has an impact. Therein lay the problem though. Trevathan has had a miserable time trying to stay on the field and this year is no different.
Nick Kwiatkoski in the process of making Trevathan expendable
People have looked at the Kwiatkoski situation all wrong. His excellent training camp to this point is seen as his way of keeping Smith, the high profile draft pick on the bench. The better way to look at is he might be maneuvering to put Trevathan out of a job by this time next year. How so?
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Think about it. Smith is a top 10 pick. He’s not going anywhere and he’s going to be a starter eventually, regardless of his contract headache. Meanwhile, Kwiatkoski just turned 25-years old. Not only does he have three years on Trevathan, but also a cleaner injury history. This camp is a perfect example.
Kwiatkoski hasn’t missed one yet. Trevathan has missed them all with a lingering hamstring injury.
Danny Trevathan and Aaron Lynch still out with hamstring injuries. Both riding the stationary bikes.
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) July 24, 2018
Kwiatkoski with the pick six on 11 vs 11s. #chicagobears pic.twitter.com/EoYpLOKmal
— Steven Friedberg (@sfriedbe) July 28, 2018
This isn’t an isolated case. Trevathan suffered a calf injury early in 2016, came back and then ruptured his patella tendon, missing seven total games. Last year he served a suspension for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers wide receiver Davante Adams and missed more time with another calf problem. This doesn’t even include the 13 games he missed in 2014 with a fractured leg and ruptured patella. The guy can’t seem to stay healthy.
People thought the future of the Bears inside linebackers would be Trevathan and Smith. With each passing day, it’s becoming apparent they may have to amend that assumption. It could likely end up being Kwiatkoski and Smith. They’re younger, less banged up and also were personally drafted by GM Ryan Pace.
He’d likely favor them over an injury-prone veteran brought in as a free agent by the head coach he just fired in John Fox.
