Danny Trevathan on Roquan Smith: ‘He's got some catching up to do'

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Danny Trevathan has battled injuries during his first two seasons as a Chicago Bear, starting only 20 of a possible 32 games since 2016. In fact, Trevathan has only two seasons in his six-year career that he's suited up for all 16 games.

That's why it's concerning when the veteran leader is sidelined so early in training camp with a hamstring injury, one he was able to return from on Monday.

"I'm happy it happened early as it did," Trevathan told reporters after practice. "Now I'm just working my way in and trying to get better.

"I feel like I'm always ready, but you know you have to be smart with it and they're [Bears trainers] doing right the right thing around here. It's going to help me throughout the whole season."

Trevathan is expected to be part of a dominant inside linebacker duo with first-round pick Roquan Smith, who missed another practice Monday due to his contract dispute.

"He's missing out," Trevathan said of Smith's absence. "But he's a smart player and he'll come back in and I'll help him get caught up."

The holdup in Smith's contract negotiation centers around the NFL's new tackling rule, one that allows the league to suspend players who initiate contact with their helmet. Obviously, the rule has a much greater chance of impacting a linebacker like Smith, and if he gets suspended at any point during the length of his contract, the Bears could attack his guaranteed money.

Trevathan's hit against Davante Adams last season is the kind of play the NFL wants to avoid in 2018.

"I understand the rule," Trevathan said when asked about the new tackling policy. "I was an example of the rule.

"They [NFL] made it real clear of what they want and I'm gonna do my part as a player. We gotta do what the league wants us to do right now or that's money out of our pockets."

Trevathan said he's confident Smith and his agents will find common ground with Ryan Pace and the Bears soon, especially after the organization fought for him last year during his suspension.

"I'm sure him and his agent will work that out. Ryan Pace and them, they were on my side about the hit against Green Bay, so I'm sure they will work it out. It's just about details within the contract.

"I was happy that they were on my side. They know what type of player I am. I'm just trying to make a play. Just to have them on my side goes to show this organization was trying to fight for me."

Still, time is of the essence for Smith if he's to make an impact early in the season. Trevathan said the Bears are hungry to be the NFL's top defense in 2018 and in order to get there, Smith has to be on the field.

"There's a lot of stuff you can't get unless you're out there on that field working with the guys next to you and communicating with the person that's going to be in with you.

"He's got some catching up to do but we'll get him caught up to date. It's no problem."

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