NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings

Bears

Bears HC Matt Nagy believes WR Anthony Miller “grew” in Week 12’s game and is improving his “trust level” with QB Mitchell Trubisky. 

“I thought he grew yesterday. They played some man coverage, and I thought he used his leverage really well. He made the catch, he finished… the trust level with him and Mitch grew,” said Nagy, via Dan Wiederer. 

• Per the Athletics Kevin Fishbain, Nagy said it would be unlikely that WR Taylor Gabriel or TE Ben Braunecker would play Thursday after each self-reported concussions from Sunday’s game. 

Lions

The Lions have lost seven of their past eight games, and with QB Matthew Stafford apparently not close to returning anytime soon, that about closes the book on the 2019 season in Detroit. Lions HC Matt Patricia acknowledged as much, saying that while the team was still trying to win every game, they would also focus on developing younger players on the roster the last few weeks. 

“I would say, for me and this team, we’re fighting every single week to try to go out and do our best and make sure we’re putting ourselves in a position where we can have that opportunity to win,” Patricia said via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I also know that this is a process. I know there’s a lot in play here that we’re going through, and we’re trying to build, and we’re trying to do the best we can to improve and get better.”

• DetroitNews.com’s Justin Rogers says the Lions likely won’t consider drafting a quarterback until the later rounds, as they’re more focused on putting pieces around Stafford than finding a successor. 
• ESPN’s Howard Bryant mentions the Lions as one of supposedly two teams with a legitimate interest in free-agent QB Colin Kaepernick which helped spark the NFL’s attempted workout. 
• Lions LB Devon Kennard said he is supportive of Patricia despite being 3-6-1 so far through the 2019 season: “I’m riding with him until the wheels come off.” (Kyle Meinke) 
• Lions QB Jeff Driskel would have practiced if the team had not just been doing walkthroughs, per Patricia, but his hamstring is still bothering him: “He’s pretty sore still today.” (Birkett)
• Patricia added former third-string QB David Blough took some first-team reps in practice this week. (Michael Rothstein)

Packers

Sunday night’s blowout at the hands of the 49ers left the Packers with many questions. One of them continues to be the usage of RB Aaron Jones, who ranks 12th in the NFL in total touches despite being second in touchdowns with 14. Jones had only 13 carries and didn’t catch a pass on Sunday night, which Packers HC Matt LaFleur took the blame for. 

“I think we definitely need to involve him more,” LaFleur said via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. “I think a little bit yesterday was a product of that scheme. There’s not a lot of [opportunities] for the backs, and then when we try to get the ball to the backs out of the backfield, they did a nice job of having vision on our halfbacks. That falls on me right there. I gotta do a better job of making sure he’s in the game when some of those plays are called for the halfbacks.”

• The Packers worked out Cody Conway (signed), Joe Dineen, Antonio Garcia, Tyler Jones and Marquez Tucker. (Aaron Wilson)

Vikings

• According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, Vikings WR Chad Beebe elected to have surgery on his ankle and will not return from injured reserve this season. 
• Viking WR Adam Thielen also returned to practice for Minnesota. (Chris Tomasson)
• Vikings waived WR Josh Doctson. (NFLTR)
• Vikings promoted LB Cameron Smith to their active roster. 
• Vikings signed FB Johnny Stanton to their practice squad.