These two Chicago Bears veterans played their best game Week 5

The Chicago Bears needed these two defensive players to step up and they did

The magnifying glass has been on Danny Trevathan and Robert Quinn since Week 1. Quinn, the Chicago Bears big free agent signing missed the game with an injury while Trevathan was picked on relentlessly by the likes of T.J. Hockenson and DeAndre Swift.

Through the first four games, both have had their ups, but both have been duds for a defense that needs to be dominant to win games. While it is fair to say that neither set the world on fire on Thursday, and neither is “back”, the two did bring their best performances in a game where they needed every last play.

Trevathan has been limited in play after week one, subbing out for Deon Bush. Bush missed the game, so while the Bears had DeAndre Houston-Carson, taking Trevathan out was a different proposition.

The Bears did take out Trevathan for DHC on obvious pass downs, however, it is worth noting Trevathan played his most snaps since Week One. He also has his most snaps in coverage since week one, playing 32 of 42 dropbacks according to PFF. Trevathan was also credited with just eight yards allowed after the catch, which is his low mark of the year. Sure, Rob Gronkowski has just as many aging questions as Trevathan, but Trevathan shut him down and swatted a pass away when targeted.

His four run-stops are a season-high, and so are his eight tackles. He still had his issues, but it was an encouraging game.

Quinn has been a rotational player, and while that was fine in Week 2, when he recorded a strip-sack, a quiet rotational player is not worth the money Quinn is seeing. Fortunately, it was speculated that the Bears are just easing Quinn in, and that may hold up. Quinn played 41 snaps, nine more than his season-high. It also was the first time in 2020 he played over 50% of the team’s snaps.

Robert Quinn had 31 pass-rush snaps, which is seven more than the highest mark of his 2020 campaign. Quinn created two pressures, which matches the Giants game, and is now clearly has the third-highest number of pass rush snaps behind Akiem Hicks and Khalil Mack.

Quinn did not play the cleanest game either, but like Trevathan left signs of encouragement. While rookies need the preseason to learn the speed of the NFL and playbook, veterans may need a little preseason to shake off the rust. Perhaps these veterans took four games to charge up, and now with a long break before week six, we could see the best of Trevathan and Quinn.