NFC Notes: Bears, Giants, Lions, Packers

Bears

Bears HC John Fox said that newly signed CB Tracy Porter could see time as their nickel back.

“He’s smart enough to do that,” Fox said of the idea, via ESPN.com. “He can play in all three spots on the sub-defenses. So we’ll wait and see how it shakes out.”

Giants

• Dan Graziano writes that the Giants would still prefer to get RB Rashad Jennings on early downs, and have RB Shane Vereen handle third-downs and passing situations.
• However, Graziano admits that Vereen could see more playing time than originally thought due to his pass-blocking ability.
• According to Graziano, free agent addition WR Dwayne Harris is the favorite to secure the No. 4 receiver position, given that he is a great special teams player.
• Graziano mentions that WRs Preston Parker, Corey Washington, Marcus Harris and Julian Talley could all be competing for just a single roster spot.
• TE Larry Donnell appears to be locked into the starting job, and Graziano believes the only thing that could cost him the starting job would be for him to sustain an injury.

Lions

• Michael Rothstein writes that there is a “very real possibility” that DC Teryl Austin is entering his final season with the Lions. Rothstein expects him to be a very sought after head-coaching candidate if he’s able to get this Lions’ defense to finish in the top 10.
• Rothstein expects both rookie CB Alex Carter and Quandre Diggs to make the final 53-man roster with one of them potentially operating in the slot.
• Other locks to make the team at cornerback are Rashean Mathis and Darius Slay, according to Rothstein.
• Rothstein could see CBs Bill Bentley, Mohammed Seisay, Crezdon Butler and Chris Owens on the outside looking in when all is said and done.

Packers

• Rob Demovsky mentions that even though the Packers spent their top-two draft picks on cornerbacks, the Packers are still thin at the position with Casey Hayward sidelined with a foot injury.
• There’s a chance that Green Bay could open the season with one of their starting cornerbacks never playing a single snap in the NFL.
• According to Demovsky, the Packers believe second-year TE Richard Rodgers will make a “significant jump” this year and possibly overtake Andrew Quarless as the starter.