NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings

Bears

Bears HC Matt Nagy said they had a more “aggressive mentality” calling plays this week, but it still required QB Mitch Trubisky to play at a high level and executive the offense.

“After the game I told him just how proud I am of him,” Nagy said, via Peter King of NBC’s Football Morning in America. “I told him about three different times that this is just the start. I want this to be his offense. I want him to understand that he can take this offense to another level. He’s gone through a lot here in the last couple weeks and it’s not easy. But these are the days and the games that you never forget.

“I go back to this week. When everybody was gone after practice, Mitch stayed after practice and threw about 50 to 60 deep balls into a stationary net about 50 yards downfield. Him and Dave Ragone, our quarterbacks coach, they were dropping back … Dave was giving him some pressure in the pocket. Mitch would slide his feet and just throw. There was a span there where he hit 10 out of 12 into the net. Just like Michael Jordan shooting threes. [GM] Ryan Pace and I were standing back there watching him doing it and we just looked at each other. We said, This kid’s in a zone. He’s out there after a three-hour practice. For it to come to fruition today and see him have success with down-field throws, it was really cool.”

• According to Ian Rapoport, free agent OLB Lamarr Houston could garner interest from the Bears now that they’ve lost OLB Sam Acho for the season.

Lions

• When asked about franchise DE Ziggy Ansah, who has missed three games this season, Lions HC Matt Patricia called him “day by day.” (Dave Birkett)

Packers

• Packers HC Mike McCarthy was asked about Aaron Rodgers‘ post-game comments on Sunday: “Aaron and I have gone through a lot of years together, and I feel good about our relationship.” (Rob Demovsky)
• McCarthy also said of Rodgers: “Very passionate man, very competitive. I’m no different, too. …When I closed my door last night and watched the game, I feel like we left a lot about there.” (Rob Demovsky)
• McCarthy said he’s concerned about the heavy playing time WR Davante Adams has seen thus far, which could result in playing time for the Packers’ rookie receivers. (Michael Cohen)
• Packers WR Randall Cobb said of his hamstring last week: “As much as I would’ve wanted to, I couldn’t be out there running at full speed. So it’s no reason to take that risk.” (Rob Demovsky)
• Cobb added: “It’s feeling better. I made strides the past couple days and hopefully I can continue to make those strides.”
• The Packers announced that WR Geronimo Allison suffered a concussion during Sunday’s win over the Bills.

Vikings

• Vikings RB Dalvin Cook admitted that he isn’t yet “100 percent” healthy in terms of his hamstring injury: “This thing is still healing up. I want to be 100 percent as badly as everybody else wants me to be 100 percent. But I’m just not there yet.” (Courtney Cronin)
• Vikings worked out DEs Robert Ayers and Lamarr Houston. (NFLTR)