Chicago Bears: 5 Players returning from injuries who need to stay healthy

2. Danny Trevathan, Linebacker

It was amazing how well the defense played while dealing with all these key injuries. Smith’s partner at inside linebacker, Danny Trevathan, also suffered an injury that cut down his season.

Trevathan’s injury came at the worst time for him. After the 2019 season, he became a free agent. At 30, and with his backup Nick Kwiatkoski playing well in his absence, there was a belief that the Bears would allow Trevathan to walk and keep Kwiatkoski.

The Bears did the opposite, however. They signed Traeathan before the free agency period even began, showing how much the team valued him.

Trevathan is a valuable player on the defense. As good as the defense was, it was so much better with him on the field. As I mentioned, the defense ranked fourth in points allowed, giving up 18.6 points per game. They ranked ninth in rushing yards allowed, giving up 102 rushing yards per game.

With Trevathan on the field, however, the defense allowed 17.4 points per game and allowed 94 rushing yards per game. Without him on the field, those numbers jumped to 20.1 points per game and 112.3 rushing yards allowed per game.

In addition to his play on the field, Trevathan is one of the leaders on the team, both on the field and in the locker room. He’s also been a great influence on Smith. Smith credits him with helping him get accustomed to how things are in the NFL.

With a healthy Trevathan, this could be one of the stingiest defenses in quite some time.