NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers

Bears

Bears LB Danny Trevathan, who is entering the final year of his contract, believes he has “plenty more in me” and feels Chicago is moving “in the right direction.”  

“I’m just appreciating each day,” Trevathan said, via Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. “It’s a blessing to be this far. I take nothing for granted. I just work my tail off and try to bring as many people along with me as I can. We’ve been moving it forward in the right direction. That’s what you like to see in an organization that’s young. Four years here, man. It feels great. I still feel like I’ve got plenty more in me. I’m taking it stride by stride.”

Regarding Bears’ new DC Chuck Pagano‘s defense, Trevathan said Pagano’s scheme will allow him to “fly around and create chaos”.

“In this defense, you are more able to fly around and create chaos and that’s what I’m used to,” said Trevathan. “I’m looking forward to going out there and showing them.”

Lions

• ESPN’s Michael Rothstein listed Lions LB Miles Killebrew as a potential veteran cut. Killebrew has bounced between safety and linebacker and hasn’t been able to find a home.
• Lions HC Matt Patricia faces a critical season in 2019 after winning only six games in his first season. If he fails to coach the Lions to .500 or show any progress, his seat could become hot fast. (Rothstein)

Packers

Packers QB DeShone Kizer got a second chance in Green Bay following a rough rookie season in Cleveland. However, Kizer is well aware that second chances don’t last forever and he has a limited amount of time to prove he belongs in the NFL.

“Right now, it’s all about making sure that every time I step out on that field that I am giving 100% effort. There is no complacency,” Kizer said via Tom Silverstein of PackersNews.com. “There is no ‘next year’ anymore. You grow up within sports really focusing in on development and understanding there’s a timeline that’s in place, so you don’t necessarily put as much pressure on yourself to get things done right away. Well, that timeline is starting to shrink for me in the sense that the lifespan of an average NFL athlete is three years. This is year three for me. I’ve gone out there, I’ve put things on tape and now it’s about making sure that from here on out everything that I put on tape really reflects who I know I can be.”

Kizer threw two interceptions and no touchdowns in three games last year, and faces a transition to a new offense this year like the rest of the team. He spent a lot of time during the spring talking with HC Matt LaFleur between plays. 

“For him specifically, it’s really the fundamentals of the position, I think, are absolutely critical,” LaFleur said. “I think you look at most good quarterbacks, and they have pretty good fundamentals. And just getting him up to speed with how we want to operate on offense. He’s still a young quarterback. This is really his third system that he’s been in, so there is a transition period. This is a critical offseason for him as well as it is for all of our guys.”

If things go well for Kizer during training camp and the preseason, he’ll have secured the backup job behind QB Aaron Rodgers. But he says his goals are bigger than that. 

“I don’t see myself as Aaron Rodgers’ backup for the final era of his career,” Kizer said. “I see myself as a future Super Bowl MVP. That’s the goal that I want to head toward. That’s the level I want to play at. Therefore, if I’m competing and focused in on the backup competition, then once again, I’m limiting myself.”