NFC Notes: Lions, Packers, Panthers

Lions

• Tom Pelissero reports that Lions franchise DE Ezekiel Ansah isn’t doing a whole lot in terms of on-field activities right now, but this isn’t related to injury or the current state of contract negotiations.
• Lions S Glover Quinn told reporters that he was away from the team to give himself more time to get refreshed.
• According to Pelissero, new Lions HC Matt Patricia has structured the team’s offseason workouts to emphasize conditioning during high-tempo, high-intensity sessions.

Packers

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers spoke highly of the team’s rookie cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson.

“They’re talented guys,” Rodgers said, via PackersNews.com. “They’re different players. Obviously, Jaire is extremely athletic, and Josh is more of kind of an instincts guy, but they’re talented guys. Corner is going to be a really interesting position. I think that position went from a need to a strength.”

“They’re talking a lot,” Rodgers said, “so I’m going to have to dice them up once we get down to it. No, I like to see the confidence, I really do. That’s how you want your corners to play, with that swagger, that confidence. [Alexander] is a little louder than [Jackson] is, but it’s fun to look on the other side of the ball and see those guys making plays.”

Panthers

Panthers HC Ron Rivera mentioned that he sees no reason why second-year RB Christian McCaffrey can’t receive 200 carries this season after getting only 117 as a rookie.

“Everybody forgets when he was in college he ran between the tackles more than anybody and he touched the ball more than anybody,” Rivera said, via ESPN.com. “So I don’t see why not.”

Turner added that he feels “very comfortable” that new OC Norv Turner will find plenty of ways to get McCaffrey involved.

“Now with Norv and seeing some of the things he’s done in the past with some of the guys he’s had, I feel very comfortable that he’ll find ways to use him and get the ball to him,” Rivera said.