NFC North Notes: Bears, Packers, Vikings

Bears

Despite not being at 100 percent health for most of the season, Bears WR Allen Robinson still showed flashes he’s looking to build on this year. 

“He can go back and watch film from last year and see himself maybe not being 100 percent but yet he was successful,” Bears WR coach Mike Furrey said via the Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain. “Especially going back to that Philly game, where now he can go back and go off that Philly game thinking, ‘Wow, I did some stuff that I was used to doing. I wasn’t comfortable doing, but now it’s there.’ Now he’s had a full offseason to recover.”

After impressing as a rookie with seven touchdowns despite dealing with a shoulder injury all season, the next step for WR Anthony Miller is learning how to operate as a receiver in a pro offense. 

“Obviously, coming from college he’s not used to getting in the huddle. He’s not used to hearing 15,000 different words, and last year, literally, we’ve all gotta agree he was thrown into the fire. We need you, go. Get lined up and we’ll figure all that stuff out later,” Furrey said. “The biggest part for him this year is going to be that growth of his mentality on that field. The experience, knowing where to be, knowing that he has to stay on time with the quarterback, knowing where to line up, all those things and it’s gonna be fun to watch him develop in regards to that. He’s gifted. He’s unbelievable. But it’ll be fun to watch.”

Fourth-round WR Riley Ridley‘s experience in a pro-style offense in college at Georgia has helped with his transition to Chicago. 

“That’s helped him get more comfortable,” Furrey said. “That’s allowed him to understand route running. When you come from a school like Georgia where they have different routes, you line up in different positions, you’re running all these different things, you’re sitting vs. zones, or running vs. man, which is the verbiage we’ll use as wideouts, but when you’ve done that stuff, it’s a huge help transitioning into the NFL.”

• Bears Undrafted WR Emanuel Hall could be a candidate as an injured reserve stash, as he has yet to practice through OTA’s from an injury that limited him during the pre-draft process. 

Packers

• Packers HC Matt LaFleur says he doesn’t anticipate having to coach from the booth instead of the sidelines during the regular season because of his Achilles tear: “As long as I handle my business and follow doctors orders, I don’t anticipate having any limitations come Week 1.” (Ryan Wood)

Vikings

• ESPN’s Courtney Cronin writes the Vikings are unlikely to release WR Laquon Treadwell before giving him one final shot. 
• Cutting Treadwell would save the Vikings $654,770, but also create a $2.506 million dead money cap hit. 
• Cronin says the Vikings would like for Treadwell to either earn the No. 3 wide receiver role or show enough for another team to trade for him.