NFL Notes: 49ers, Bears, Giants, & Packers

 

 

49ers

49ers first-round pick DB Jimmie Ward is healthy and expected to participate in the team’s training camp.

• Ward has missed time due to a foot injury.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee mentions that Ward could see time nickel back due to his coverage skills.

Bears

Michael C. Wright of ESPN Chicago projects Jimmy Clausen to beat out Jordan Palmer for the Bears backup job.

Wright also has sixth-round pick QB David Fales making the final 53-man roster as well.

Clausen, 26, sat out the 2013 season due to a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, but it appears as though he has fully recovered from the injury and is ready to compete for a roster spot.

The Panthers used a second-round pick on Clausen back in 2010, but he has yet to live up to his draft status. Clausen hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since he rookie season when was played in 13 total games throwing three touchdowns compared to nine interceptions.

• Wright doesn’t have second-year OLB Khaseem Greene making the final cut in his projections. Instead, Wright gives the final spot to Jordan Senn.
• It’s worth mentioning that Wright has veteran S Adrian Wilson on the final 53-man roster.

Giants

Giants second-year DT Johnathan Hankins has “taken a pretty big leap over the summer” and is expected to take over the Linval Joseph‘s role this year.

“I’ve been extremely impressed with Johnathan Hankins,” DC Perry Fewell, via the Newark Star Ledger. “Markus Kuhn came back from the injury last year and played just a little bit last year. I’ve been extremely impressed with both of those guys. They have, technique-wise, accomplished a lot in phase one, phase two and phase three of the offseason program and then just their knowledge of the game, I think they’ve done a really, really nice job.”

Last year, Hankins appeared in 11 games and recorded a total of 16 tackles. Pro Football Focus has him down for playing 192 snaps, but they have him rated as a very strong run-defender.

Packers

Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com has the Packers keeping three rookie receivers on their final 53-man roster, which includes: Davante Adams, Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis.

Beyond that, Demovsky doesn’t have TE Colt Lyerla on his projected roster, but he admits that the former Oregon product remains a wildcard.

The Packers toughest roster decisions are likely to come at linebacker as Demovsky has the Packers parting ways with Nate Palmer, Andy Mulumba and undrafted rookie Adrian Hubbard.