NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers

Bears

Bears second-year QB Mitch Trubisky mentioned during an interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio that he’s excited about the offensive weapons the team added this offseason as well the new offensive scheme.

“I am very excited with the new weapons that we have added and with the offense that Coach Nagy has brought,” Trubisky said. “I think this locker room is closer than ever so it’s a lot of exciting things going on here in Chicago and can’t wait to get them the ball this season.”

Trubisky added that he learned a lot from his rookie season.

“The experience aspect and how to prepare day in and day out,” Trubisky saido. “The grind of how long the season is, because you obviously don’t get that from the college season. You add a bunch more weeks in the NFL in everything you’ve got to do on a day-in, day-out basis. The speed of the game, and how there’s no weak spots on the other side of the ball. Everyone’s a baller in the NFL. You’ve just got to come prepared or else you’re not going to be able to do your job correctly. I definitely learned a lot about how you have to handle yourself as an NFL quarterback and being prepared on a week-to-week basis and just being the leader my team needs. I’ve learned a lot over the last year, and I’m looking forward to using all that information and continue to learn and get better for the future.”

Lions

• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes that third-year DL A’Shawn Robinson is primed to play a major role in the Lions’ revamped defensive line this year.
• Birkett mentions that while Robinson most likely will never be a big sack total player, he could very well be an interior disruptive defender for Detroit, considering his size.
• The Lions will pair Robinson with free agent addition Sylvester Williams in even-man fronts this fall and may still see snaps on the outside.
• Michael Rothstein of ESPN offers an early projection of the Lions’ 53-man roster. Some of the notable roster cuts include QB Jake Rudock, RB Zach Zenner, C Wes Johnson, DE Cam Johnson, and OT Corey Robinson.

Packers

Packers RB Aaron Jones says he has worked this offseason to get bigger in order to help him hold up in pass protection.

“I’m bigger all around,” Jones said, via Packers.com. “That’s something that’s going to help me in pass protection and that’s something I want to get better at. I’m stronger, so definitely when a defender who’s bigger than me comes up I can hold my ground this year.”

Jones doesn’t think getting bigger and strong will impact his explosiveness.

“I feel like any athlete wants to get bigger, stronger as long as they can stay explosive,” Jones said. “I still feel just as explosive as I was, if not even more.”

Last year, Jones dealt with a disappointing knee injury, but he knows it could have been a lot worse.

“It was really frustrating,” Jones said. “I feel like it kind of messed up the season I was having, but I was still there for my teammates and still enjoyed being here. I came back from one and then injured the other one, and that was even more frustrating.

“I was like, ‘How unlucky am I,’ but I was lucky at the same time because it could have been ACL. MCLs you just have to rest.”