THIS RETURNER’S A SPECIAL TEAMMATE
Trevathan’s comeback has been inspiring — and timely
Falcons running back Devonta Freeman saw an opening in the Bears’ defensive front and tried to cut through it. But he didn’t get too far.
As Fox broadcaster Kevin Burkhardt said, Freeman’s momentum was stopped by “a Bears brick wall led by Danny Trevathan.”
“That’s what you live for as a linebacker, to meet them faceto- face in the hole,” Trevathan said. “They’re always running sideways and trying to run away from you. Finally, you get that opportunity to strike like a cobra.”
It was a knock-you- in- themouth hit that Trevathan has become known for during his six- year career. But it was a tackle that meant much more to him and the Bears.
It was Trevathan’s first contact in a game since he ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee in Week 13 last season and after going through a grueling rehabilitation process.
“That was my first hit — yes!” Trevathan said. “I felt good, man. I’m looking forward to having more like that and playing lights- out with this defense.”
Athletes returning from torn patellar tendons can require a year or more to feel like themselves. But Trevathan was ready by Week 1 — less than 10 months after he suffered the devastating injury Nov. 27 against the Titans.
“He’s a stud, man,” defensive end Mitch Unrein said.
Trevathan’s resilience impressed teammates. It was inspiring. But after losing linebacker Jerrell Freeman to a torn pectoral muscle, Trevathan’s return also has been a godsend.
How would the Bears’ defense stack up if it lost Free-
man and Trevathan still was recovering from his surgery? The Bears see second- year linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski as a future starter, but he can only replace one of them.
“I’ve always believed that they don’t have to see you working for you to work,” Trevathan said. “You know what you put in. What really adds to your character is what you do when you’re not around somebody or somebody’s not watching.
“That’s the type of person I want to be, and I want to make anybody around me not work just because, [ but] work because it’s for yourself. Work because it’s going to make you better at something. That was my whole attitude through that surgery: just getting better, getting back and helping my guys out.” Again, it’s an attitude that his teammates felt. They might not have seen everything that Trevathan was doing during his rehabilitation, but seeing him out there on the practice fields in Bourbonnais when training camp opened was a strong statement. “He loves this team,” linebacker Christian Jones said. “He did everything he could to get back as fast as he could. It shows what kind of guy he is. He cares. He cares about everybody in this locker room. He cares about his job. He works hard. It’s showing.” Unrein wasn’t surprised, though. He distinctly remembered how well Trevathan played during the 2015 season for the Broncos despite dislocating his left kneecap a season earlier and requiring surgery. Trevathan had 109 tackles and two interceptions, including a 25- yard picksix, during that season.
“He’s one of the most resilient guys I’ve ever been around,” said Unrein, who was Trevathan’s teammate for three seasons in Denver before they signed with the Bears.
“He’s been through a lot of adversity, and he’s come back stronger and stronger every single time. . . . He’s already playing at a high level right away. Everyone feeds off that.”
The Bears certainly hope that continues. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio described Trevathan’s Week 1 performance as “fine,” but only because it was his first game action after being held out the entire preseason.
“He worked extremely hard to get it back, so credit to him for coming back smoothly,” Fangio said. “I don’t see any ill effects from the injury.”
To Trevathan, who signed a four- year contract worth $ 15.5 million guaranteed with the Bears last offseason, it was just the start. He has something to build on. He felt energetic but still thinks his conditioning needs work. He was happy with his performance, but he thought he left plays out on the field.
But just being able to take the field in Week 1 and play with his teammates was a “heartfelt” experience, he said.
“Just prayed about it, and I just worked my tail off,” Trevathan said. “To be out there, it felt good.”
‘‘ I’ve always believed that they don’t have to see you working for you to work. You know what you put in. What really adds to your character is what you do when you’re not around somebody or somebody’s not watching. That’s the type of person I want to be.’’ — Danny Trevathan, Bears inside linebacker