NFC Notes: Bears, Aaron Rodgers, Packers, Vikings

Bears

Bears HC Matt Nagy mentioned he thinks DT Eddie Goldman will be at training camp despite missing minicamp.

“Missing the mandatory minicamp is a big deal,” Nagy said, via NBC Sports Chicago. “But I have a lot of respect for Eddie Goldman. I think he’s a hell of a player. He’s a really special person, and I really don’t have concerns of him not showing up to camp. I really believe that he’ll be there. If he’s not, we got to continue to move forward and we’ll have a plan in place to make sure that we help get him here.”

LB Danny Trevathan mentioned he believes Goldman will be ready to go.

“I know he’s gonna be here,” Trevathan said. “He’s been working his tail off. He looks totally different. I’ve been communicating with him as much as possible — he’s a tough guy to get in contact with — but he loves us. He loves the Bears organization. He loves the defense. So he’s gonna come here ready to work.”

Packers

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer writes that his best guess is that the Packers and QB Aaron Rodgers will find a way to smooth things over for this season, with no guarantees on what happens in February of 2022. 
• He adds Green Bay has shown zero indication of being willing to trade Rodgers, which makes sense given they’re in a clear championship window. Breer notes the Packers also don’t believe 2020 first-round QB Jordan Love is ready to take over, as evidenced by them force-feeding him close to 90 percent of the reps during OTAs. 

Vikings

As for Vikings QB Kirk Cousins, TE Irv Smith said the veteran quarterback is playing with a “chip on his shoulder” this season and is walking around with “a lot more swagger.” 

“I mean Kirk, he’s done a great job, obviously, with the Vikings. Last year, we were a top-five offense,” Smith said, via ProFootballTalk. “Defensively, obviously, we didn’t play too well so our record didn’t show for it. But this year, I’m very excited. We’ve got a lot of weapons on offense. Kirk, he told us he’s just a point guard out there. He’s just going to deliver the ball and put it in the playmakers’ hands and we’re going to make some plays. He’s playing with a chip on his shoulder. He’s got a lot more swagger this year, for sure, and I’m very excited. It’s going to be fun.”