The avalanche of injuries that has buried the Bears this season claimed another victim Sunday.
Coach John Fox confirmed Monday that inside linebacker Danny Trevathan will be placed on injured reserve after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee against the Titans. The five-year NFL veteran was injured late in the fourth quarter on a running play.
Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan will be placed on injured reserve after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee against the Titans.
"It was a semi-contact injury, kind of behind the ball," Fox said. "He planted wrong and the injury occurred. He'll fight back. He's been through it before. He had a similar injury a couple years ago that he worked through and he'll do the same off of this one."
When he played for Fox with the Broncos in 2014, Trevathan suffered three injuries to his left knee, including a broken kneecap in training camp and later a dislocated patellar tendon in a Week 15 win over the Chargers that ended his season.
The 6-1, 239-pounder rebounded to play 15 games for the Broncos in 2015 but will be limited to nine contests in his first year with the Bears. Trevathan suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb in a Week 2 loss to the Eagles, missed two games after undergoing surgery and then returned wearing a cast.
When the Bears signed Trevathan less than an hour into free agency March 9, they bolstered their defense with a fast, athletic and productive three-down playmaker. He was a key member of the Broncos' Super Bowl-winning defense last season, registering a team-leading 109 tackles for a unit that ranked first in the NFL in total yards and passing yards.
"He's a very talented player, one that we targeted and went after," Fox said. "Unfortunately, he did have that thumb injury that required surgery earlier in the season. He looked very good in all the offseason work, even in training camp. Unfortunately, this happened to him."
It's unclear how long it will take Trevathan to recover from his latest injury.
"Having been through it before with him on the other knee, I think it's something that our docs will do a good job and he'll do a good job in his rehab," Fox said. "I can't give you an exact timeline, but I don't think it'll set him too far back for next season."
Trevathan will become the 15th Bears player on injured reserve, a group that includes quarterback Brian Hoyer, receiver Kevin White, tight end Zach Miller, right guard Kyle Long, center Hroniss Grasu, defensive linemen Will Sutton and Ego Ferguson, outside linebacker Lamarr Houston and cornerback Kyle Fuller.
"It hurts, but it's next man up," said outside linebacker Willie Young. "We always say that because that's what it is. It's a physical game. It's a nasty game we play. One guy goes down, next man up. It's very unfortunate, but that's just the nature of this game."
