NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers

Bears

• Bears HC Matt Nagy said Wednesday that TE Adam Shaheen (ankle/foot, injured reserve) will not practice this week, but “he’s getting real close.” (Rich Campbell)

Lions

Lions HC Matt Patricia explained that the decision to trade away WR Golden Tate was simply something they felt was going to help the team out in the long term.

“When we evaluate everything we do as a franchise, we think there is certain value we can get at times during the season that will help us long term,” Patricia said, via MLive.com. “And we obviously have faith and confidence in the people that are on this team right now. So we put all that into play and try to make sure we’re making the best decision we can in that moment, and it’s hard — it’s very difficult — when you’re in that one-game-at-a-time mindset. And that’s where we are from the standpoint, it’s week to week for us and that’s good, but there’s also a big picture here that we keep an eye on as we move forward, and that’s something we have to consider when we make all these decisions — whether it’s during the season, during the offseason, free agency, draft, whatever it is. Those are difficult decisions whenever they come.”

Packers

Regarding the team’s decision to trade away S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and RB Ty Montgomery, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst told reporters that “performance comes first” but there’s more to it than just that.

“I think you take everything into consideration when you make these kind of decisions, but performance comes first,” Gutekunst said, via ESPN.com. “That’s always the major factor in these decisions. Everything’s taken into account, but it’s never usually just one thing.”

Gutekunst added that he doesn’t think the moves will send a specific message to the locker room.

“I don’t necessarily think there’s a message it sends to the locker room,” Gutekunst said. “I think the decisions that we make are always in the best interest of our team, not only in the short term but the long term, as well. But I think our locker room knows where we’re headed and like I said, I think we’re humming at the right time and I think there’s a lot of positive things going forward.”

• The Packers worked out T Andrew Nelson, LB Anthony Winbush, and TE Ethan Wolf. (Howard Balzer)
• Of this group, Green Bay signed Wolf to their practice squad.