NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Vikings

Bears

Bears HC Matt Nagy highlighted third-round RB David Montgomery‘s receiving ability as something that stood out to him in offseason workouts. 

“We always knew he had great hands,” Nagy said, via the Chicago Sun-Times. “You don’t know how great of a route runner a college back is, but he’s a really good route runner. . . . This kid can’t wait. [Neither can] Mike Davis and these other backs. They want to put the pads on.”

• Nagy reiterated that he “feels good” about TE Trey Burton (sports hernia) being ready for the beginning of training camp late next month, but couldn’t guarantee that will happen. (Jeff Dickerson)
• Nagy is also optimistic WR Anthony Miller (shoulder) will be ready for the start of training camp next month. (Brad Biggs)

Lions

Lions CB Darius Slay, who has been holding out of offseason workouts for a new contract, signed on The Pride Podcast Thursday and said “we’ll see” and “time will tell” when asked if he’ll be in attendance for the start of training camp.

Beyond that, Slay didn’t offer much else in terms of details regarding his plans. 

“I ain’t getting into that,” Slay said, via the Detroit Free Press. “I’m going to let my agent and the organization kind of handle all that. I’m just going to be chill about it and see how it all plays out.”

Vikings

Vikings QB Kirk Cousins set new career-highs in touchdown passes, completion percentage and interception percentage in 2018. However, the Vikings missed the playoffs, which is why Cousins enters 2018 still trying to prove he and the team can take another step forward. 

“I think (getting to) the next level really is all about winning,” Cousins said via Chris Tomasson. “I’m pretty much a .500 quarterback in my career so far and I don’t think that’s where you want to be and that’s not why you are brought in or people are excited about you.”

“If I don’t play well, if I don’t have gaudy statistics but we win multiple playoff games this year, the narrative will be I went to the next level. … If I have my best year (statistically) yet in 2019 but we’re 8-8, I didn’t go to the next level,” Cousins continued per Tomasson.