The Chicago Bears haven’t drafted well at the linebacker position in recent years, but so far, the signs are pointing to last year’s fourth-round pick Nick Kwiatkoski bucking that trend.

After Danny Trevathan went down with a season-ending injury and Jerrell Freeman sat out for a four-game suspension, the rookie linebacker was forced into a starting role and the spotlight in the middle of the Bears’ defense.

“It’s a big responsibility,” Kwiatkoski told the Chicago-Sun Times. “You do a lot for the defense. It’s a great defense to be in, and it’s a great team to play for to be a linebacker. The history, it’s a linebacker place.”

Trevathan is still recovering from his torn patellar tendon in his knee, and his status for training camp remains up in the air. Kwiatkoski knows that even if the veteran isn’t able to be out on the field, his presence will still be felt.

“Camp is not going to wait for Danny, but I hope he’s ready,” Kwiatkoski said. “But if not, he’s definitely going to be there helping us along the way.”

Freeman will be out there at Kwiatkoski’s side as he was last year after his suspension. He witnessed the rookie’s development first hand and sees the young linebacker’s arrow pointing up.

“I saw growth in him from the first time he was out there playing with me until the end of the season,” Freeman said. “He’s grown a lot in being more comfortable out there playing. He’s not wide-eyed or anything.”

The experience Kwiatkoski earned after being rushed onto the field ended up proving valuable in a lost season. If at any point the Bears don’t have either of their veteran starters ready for game day, Kwiatkoski will be ready to step in at a moment’s notice.