READY TO STEP INTO BREACH
Kwiatkoski eager to show his worth as Freeman’s fill- in
When Nick Kwiatkoski made his first NFL start at inside linebacker in Week 3 against the Cowboys at AT& T Stadium last season, he didn’t last long. He only played 18 of 68 defensive snaps.
“It was something I wasn’t proud of. But you’ve got to start somewhere,” Kwiatkoski said.
The fourth- round draft pick from West Virginia improved from there. He ended up starting the final six games in place of Jerrell Freeman ( suspension) and Danny Trevathan ( knee injury) and was much better than his debut. He had five tacklesfor- loss in the final five games.
Now Kwiatkoski will get a chance to show just how much he has improved since then when he starts for the injured Freeman against the Buccaneers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
Freeman was put on injured reserve Tuesday and will have surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle he suffered in thehe Bears’ 23- 17 loss to the Falcons ns on Sunday in the season openerner at Soldier Field. He could return urn after eight weeks, but likely is out for the season.
This will be the biggest testest of the Bears’ roster depth after ter injuries greased the skids for r a 3- 13 season in 2016. The Bears alalready have three starters on IR this season — Freeman and wide de receivers Kevin White ( brokenen shoulder blade) and Cam Mereredith ( torn ACL). But while their eir receiving depth is suspect, the he Bears expect Kwiatkoski to fill Freeman’s role much better than an he did last year.
“He grew,” coach John Fox said of Kwiatkoski. “You never want to lose two starters in the opener — both Kevin and Jerrell. But part of the reason why you talk about and build depth is for these reasons. I feel a lot better about Nick than I probably did in that Dallas game last season.”
Kwiatkoski not only has more game experience than he had when he started for Freeman and Trevathan, but he comes into this season in better shape. He suffered a hamstring injury on the third of training camp last year — the first day in pads — and missed most of training camp and the preseason.
This season, Kwiatkoski suffered a concussion in the preseason opener against the Broncos and missed a week of practice and the next game, but went otherwise unscathed and came into the regular season strong.
That in itself is a big difference, he said.
“Not having a preseason [ in 2016] hurt, especially coming my rookie year,” Kwiatkoski said. “I didn’t really know what to expect. It all happened fast last year.
“But the growth I’ve had since then — getting some experience, doing some things I did last year — I feel so much better and much more comfortable.”
Kwiatkoski started in place of Trevathan, who was recovering from knee surgery, in the preseason opener. He started in both linebacker positions last season.sea So he is comfortable in both.bot He also is comfortable with play-pla calling responsibilities if it comescom to that.
“As a linebacker corps, we try to learn both,” Kwiatkoski said. “It helps to know what the other guy guy’s doing. And also for times like this, when you never know wh where you could be.”
Kwiatkoski played seven snapssna on defense in the season openerop but was mostly used on specialspe teams. He had a big hit on punt returner Andre Roberts.
He’ll have a chance to make a muchmu bigger impact Sunday.
“You have to be ready for things like this,” Kwiatkoski said. “It happened last year, the injuries. I definitely feel like I’ve gained some experience. I feel I’m ready.”
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