NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Vikings

Bears

Bears HC Matt Nagy said he understands why multiple kickers voiced displeasure in the team bringing in several players during their rookie minicamp. 

“I understand — we brought in a lot of kickers that came in here,” Nagy said, via Jeff Dickerson of ESPN. “To me, I look at it as a positive, in the fact that we said we’re going to turn over every stone to find whoever’s out there. We felt like we, at that point in time, when we brought in a bunch of kickers, we’re going to test them all out and see what they can do.”

Regardless of the criticism, Nagy reiterated that he is pleased with how they approached the kicker’s role.  

“And then, within that time frame, we also put in some situations with the Augusta silence early on to see how they could handle it. Is it exactly the perfect science? I don’t know that, maybe not … I just really like how we’re going through this thing. [Bears general manager] Ryan [Pace] and I talk about no regrets, right?”

• Nick Korte notes that the Cardinals releasing WR Kevin White on Wednesday will cost the Chicago Bears their fourth-round 2020 compensatory pick for S Adrian Amos, who signed with the Packers. 
• According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears could give WR Cordarrelle Patterson around 50 touches on the season. Patterson’s primary role will be as a kick returner. 
• Biggs believes OL Alex Bars is more likely headed to the practice squad than the final roster. He also adds UDFA LB Mathieu Betts, the No. 3 overall pick in the CFL draft, might need some time playing in Canada before he’s ready for the NFL. 
• Despite some uneven preseason play, Biggs thinks the Bears are content with QB Chase Daniel as the backup. 
• Bears WR Anthony Miller continues to miss practice time with an injured ankle. While HC Matt Nagy is confident he’ll be able to play Week 1, it might take some time for Miller to fully integrate back into the offense: “The biggest challenge is the timing with the quarterback. “That’s the No. 1 challenge.” (Dan Wiederer)
• Bears fourth-round WR Riley Ridley had a delayed start to training camp following a hamstring injury. But the rookie is back and Nagy says he’s caught up quickly: “With Riley, he’s done a really good job of digesting everything. He knows what he’s doing. He has a great feel. When teams play zone coverage, he has a good feel of that. He has excellent ball skills.” (Kevin Fishbain)

Lions

The Lions have worked hard to make the defensive line a strength of the team, paying $9.1 million to add DT Mike Daniels this summer to a group that already included Trey Flowers, Damon Harrison, Da’Shawn Hand and A’Shawn Robinson. The hope is that has a trickle over effect for the rest of the defense. 

“It’s going to free me up to do so many things,” Lions LB Jarrad Davis said via Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press. “And it’s going to be hard for offenses to really block all three of those guys.”

Vikings

The Vikings have a cadre of wide receivers battling for the final few spots on the roster behind Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, and only second-year slot man Chad Beebe appears to be secure as the No. 3. Behind them, former first-rounder Laquon Treadwell, veteran Jordan Taylor, rookies Dillon Mitchell and Olabisi Johnson, Brandon Zylstra, Jeff Badet, Davion Davis and Alexander Hollins are all in the mix.

“They’re hard to separate right now,” Zimmer said via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “When we talk about it in the personnel meetings and things like that, it’s one guy has a good day, then he has a bad day. The consistency of what they’re trying to do is really hard to get a handle on. That’s why I say that special teams, they need to get their rear ends going on that.”

• Treadwell was fined $28,075 for an illegal blindside block in the Week 1 preseason game against the Saints. The rule is new for the NFL this season. (Tomasson)
• The Athletic’s Jay Glazer says the Vikings were “raving” about third-round RB Alexander Mattison during his visit to training camp.