NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings

Bears

• Per ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson, Bears DT Eddie Goldman is still day-to-day with a thigh injury.

Lions

• According to Justin Rogers of DetroitNews.com, the Lions still believe in LB Jarrad Davis despite his inconsistent play and their love of his work ethic and locker room impact makes the team unlikely to move on before Davis’ deal expires after 2020. 
• Lions QB Matthew Stafford was listed as limited in practice Wednesday with back and hip issues. Though Stafford has dealt with injuries to both those areas recently, he says this was different and won’t keep him out this week against the Bears: “No, I’m fine. I’ll be good to go. I’m not really worried about it. Something different, but I’m totally good.” (Dave Birkett)
• Lions LB Christian Jones‘ two-year extension includes a signing bonus of $1.97 million and $5.017 million guaranteed. (Michael Rothstein)
• In 2020, Jones has a $1.8 million fully-guaranteed option bonus in 2020 that increases his base salary from $820,000 and adds a voidable year in 2022 if the team exercises it. He also has $14,375 per each game on the active roster, $750,000 of unlikely-to-be-earned incentives and a $150,000 workout bonus. 
• In 2021, Jones has a $1.26 million base salary, $17,600 per each game on the active roster, a $200,000 roster bonus and a $2.6 million salary escalator tied to sacks and making the Pro Bowl. 

Packers

Packers WR Davante Adams made his return from a turf toe injury last Sunday against the Chargers. While it’s clear Adams is still recovering, as he averaged under six yards per catch on his seven receptions, he says he escaped the game with no major setbacks to his toe. 

“It gets beat up a little bit,” Adams said via PackersNews.com. “But it’s definitely no setbacks. Nothing like that. We just want to be smart so I can heal up and continue to get better and better. I’m obviously healed at this point, but as far as being a thousand percent back to myself, I wouldn’t quite say I’m quite there yet.”

• Packers HC Matt LaFleur said WR Ryan Grant is ready to play, but the team hasn’t made him active yet because of various considerations: “It’s more a matter of, who do you put down? … It’s just more or less the opportunity hasn’t presented itself yet.” (Ryan Wood)

Vikings

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook will be eligible to sign an extension for the first time in his career at the conclusion of the 2019 season, which is phenomenal timing given the pace Cook is on so far. Cook has nine touchdowns, 894 yards rushing and more than 1,200 total yards in nine games, and he’s a pivotal part of Minnesota’s run-first offense.

Cook is hoping that success helps smooth negotiations. It’s been a struggle for running backs to cash in recently, as evidenced by the lengthy holdouts by Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott and Chargers RB Melvin Gordon. While Cook has paid attention to how those situations have played out, he said he’s not necessarily using them as a formula for his upcoming negotiations. 

“No, you just take care of your situation because everybody’s situation is unique and is different,” Cook said via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. “And my situation is totally different than those guys. So I’m chasing the game. I’m just not chasing nothing else but the game. I want to learn as much as I can. I want to be the best player, the best back, the best teammate that I can be for the Vikings, and doing that if you’re chasing anything else but the game you’ll fall short of that. And I ain’t trying to fall short of that.”