NFC Notes: 49ers, Packers, Vikings

49ers

49ers Jimmy Garoppolo praised WR Jalen Hurd and believes he can be special if he stays healthy.

“He’s such a physical freak with the things he can do in his route running, with the ball in his hands, it’s very impressive,” Garoppolo said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “Hopefully he’ll get to put those on display, hopefully, we’ll get him out there as soon as possible.” 

• Garoppolo says his ankle is healed from last year’s injury: “I’ve been 100 percent for a while now. The offseason’s been good to me” (Cam Inman)
• Garoppolo also acknowledged that he wasn’t surprised by the team addressing the quarterback position: “As NFL QB, you expect that in a way. It’s part of the competition in the sport. … It’s the life we live. I welcome that.” (Inman)
• Garoppolo mentioned that he uses the TB12 method to stay in shape in the offseason: “Ever since NE, I don’t want to say I do whole TB12 regimen, I definitely adapted some of the things he did over there… I picked up a couple things I’ve carried with me.” (Inman)
• 49ers LB Fred Warner, who is entering the final year of his contract, said he “obviously” would like to re-sign with the organization and believes the situation will eventually “work itself out”: “Obviously I want to be a Niner for life, too, right? All that will work itself out in due time.” (Cam Inman)

Packers

• Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that the Packers still refuse to budge when it comes to a potential trade of QB Aaron Rodgers, and adds that only time will tell if he shows up when required to in Green Bay.
• New promotions under Packers’ GM Brian Gutekunst include Chad Brinker from assistant director of pro scouting/salary cap analyst to personnel football administrative executive and Patrick Moore from college scout to assistant director of college scouting. (Rob Demovsky)

Vikings

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook said he has been focusing on weight lifting this offseason in order to help stay healthy for a full season. 

“It’s hitting the weight room a little bit harder,” Cook said, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “It’s doing the little things a little more. … It’s a longer season for everybody, so you have to do things a little smarter, you got to train a little harder. I think that’s going to be the key: Who takes care of their body the best. I’ve been setting myself up pretty good and putting good people around me to take care of my body.”

Cook pointed out that he dealt with injuries the first two years of his career and is hopeful to avoid further issues. 

“My first couple of years I got banged up and it was, what can I do a little different to not get put in that situation again?” said Cook. “Focusing on those little muscles. … I knew I had to get stronger. Not like bodybuilder stuff but I just went in there, hit a couple of extra reps, squatted more, focused on my legs more.”

Cook reiterated that he’s done a lot of recovery work this offseason to help his body. 

“(There’s been) a lot more recovery (work),” Cook said. “I always thought lifting weights and just trying to get stronger and build the muscles up was the thing. But you’ve got to let your body rest sometimes and you’ve got to let things calm down and get restarted and refreshed.”

Cook added that the league’s newly added 17th game could help him achieve 2,000 rushing yards. 

“I won’t say it’s going to be easy but it’s up in the air to get, but that extra game is valuable,” said Cook.