59 Days Until Chicago Bears 2017 Season Kicks off: Danny Trevathan Profile
The Bear Goggles On Countdown to Kickoff series is now underway for the second season in a row. With 59 days to go until the Bears season kicks off, we will highlight the Bears player that is wearing number 59, Danny Trevathan.
2016 Review
The Bears signed Trevathan as a free agent prior to the start of the 2016 season and expected big things out of him. After a strong start to the year, he suffered a thumb injury which kept him out of two games. He came back and played well until week 12 when he suffered a ruptured right patellar tendon. That put him out for the rest of the year.
The injury is extremely difficult to come back from and put his status for 2017 into question.
Production-wise, Trevathan totaled 66 tackles with 49 solo and 17 assisted.
2017 Outlook
As we move closer to training camp, it appears to be getting more clear that Trevathan will not be able to make it back in time for the start of it. General Manager Ryan Pace stated earlier this year that he might have to start the season on the physically unable to perform list. Coaches have seemed to be guarded when talking about Trevethan’s availability to start training camp.
The likely scenario is that he will not be able to start training camp. But when will he be able to play at all during the season? The recovery period from such an injury as Trevathan had depends on how quickly after the injury surgery was done and what was done to recover. Typically, a return to football may be able to be accomplished between four to six months after surgery.
Chicago Bears
Trevathan’s surgery took place in January which means that he could be ready for football activities in June (that being six months after surgery) “IF” everything is healing up ok. But that’s a big if.
There is one player on the team who can relate to what Trevathan is going through. Newly signed wide receiver Victor Cruz suffered from a torn patellar tendon in October of 2014. He wasn’t fully back and playing again until right before the start of the 2016 season. That was a long time to be out.
Could the same thing happen to Trevathan?
Let’s say he does make it back in time to start the season and is completely healthy. Will he be able to effectively contribute at the linebacker position? He could easily be effective and would play at a high level, if he is healthy. The Bears need him in the lineup to help bolster an already strong defense. His leadership and ability to make big plays would be huge. Coupled with Jerrell Freeman, both players could end up as the most formidable interior linebacking group in the NFL.
But it all boils down to whether Trevathan will see the field, or not see it, in 2017. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and his staff are crossing their fingers in hopes that he will be available when the season begins. Bears fans will hope he is available as well.
Next: Comparing Leonard Floyd to other rookies
Future with the Bears
It is entirely possible that Trevethan’s career with the Bears and in football overall could be over. However, I think that he will be able to make it back from this knee injury. I believe his chances of making it back and playing again, right now with the little information we have, are about 50/50. If he does make it back and plays well then, being that he is under contract he will be a Bear in 2018. There is no way he will be off the roster unless he retires.