NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings

Bears

• According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky would have to regress or play very poorly for the Bears not to pick up his fifth-year option for 2021 following this season. 
• Bears claimed TE J.P. Holtz off of waivers from the Redskins. (NFLTR)
• Bears waived DL Abdullah Anderson.

Lions

Lions HC Matt Patricia said the team must continue to figure out ways to use TE T.J. Hockenson throughout the season now that teams are starting to notice him. 

“It becomes more difficult as the season goes on and we’re going to have to do different things to keep him productive from that standpoint,” said Patricia, via Chris Burke of The Athletic. “It always becomes very difficult afterwards when someone has a performance like that, with everybody else in the league taking notice, too. Certainly, I do the same thing from my perspective if I see that from an offensive player. It makes it a little bit more complicated as you go forward.”

Packers

• Per Ryan Wood, Packers HC Matt LaFleur anticipates recent trade acquisition B.J. Goodson to play “quite a bit” at linebacker on Sunday against the Vikings. 

Vikings

With the Vikings secondary still dealing with injuries, backup S Jayron Kearse could be pushed into action as Minnesota’s nickel corner against the Packers this week. Kearse said he’s still working on defending some of the shiftier slot receivers, but the 6-4 defensive back says he feels comfortable defending the bigger slot options like Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison and Jimmy Graham that Green Bay will employ. 

“Honestly I’ve played more nickel than I’ve played safety,” Kearse said via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. “For me, if anything it’ll be an adjustment the other way around because I’ve been on the field in actual game action the majority of the time at the nickel position rather than back deep at safety.”

• Vikings HC Mike Zimmer said “there’s a chance” CB Mike Hughes, who has been working his way back from a torn ACL, plays in Week 2. (Chris Tomasson)
• Vikings starting left guard Pat Elflein missed practice Wednesday and was replaced by OL Dakota Dozier. (Cronin)