3. Inside linebackers
The Bears are returning both of their starting inside linebackers from a season ago with Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith, although they did lose two key reserves in Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis to free agency. Still, the tandem of Trevathan and Smith has over these last two seasons has proven to be a recipe for success for Chicago.
Both Trevathan and Smith are coming off injury-shortened seasons, although both were playing some of their best football before being sidelined. While Smith’s sophomore season saw a dip in production, he led the Bears in tackles for the second straight year with 100, also adding a pair of sacks, two passes defensed and an interception. Trevathan was leading the team in tackles prior to his elbow injury in Week 10 against the Lions. In nine games, Trevathan logged 70 tackles, one sack and four quarterback hits.
Chicago will need reserves like Joel Iyiegbuniwe and Josh Woods to step it up following the departures of Kwiatkoski and Pierre-Louis, especially given the injury history of Trevathan.
[lawrence-related id=450411,450356,450266]