NFC Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers

Bears

• Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes that if Bears QB Nick Foles plays well enough to void his contract, which would include taking Chicago to the NFC Championship game, the team would likely use the franchise tag on him in 2021. 
• Biggs mentions Bears WR Javon Wims as someone who could be caught in the roster crunch this preseason and not make the team. 
• By Week 1, Biggs believes the Bears will carry four, possibly five, tight ends on the final roster, with potentially two more on the practice squad. 
• Biggs highlights Jimmy Graham, second-round rookie Cole Kmet and free-agent pickup Demetrius Harris as locks, with special teams likely playing a key role in distinguishing who takes the other spots. Ben Braunecker, J.P. Holtz and Jesper Horsted all have special teams experience. 

Lions

Lions GM Bob Quinn explained a while back that selecting QB Tua Tagovailoa with the third overall pick wasn’t a realistic option. 

“Easier, I would say much easier, said than done,” Quinn said, via the Detroit News. “How do I know Tua was (the Dolphins) guy? How do I know they didn’t really want an offensive tackle, which they had talked a lot about. There are so many maybes in that conversation, that’s why it doesn’t happen in the NFL.

“We don’t trust each other as GMs,” Quinn said. “I worked with (Dolphins GM) Chris Grier for a year. My first year in the league, Chris was in New England in 2000. So I know Chris. Ultimately, like you said, it’s a game of poker. On draft weekend, I take no one’s word. I couldn’t sit there and truthfully, for the Lions organization, consider something like that because you never know what’s going to happen.”

Packers

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers said he is excited about WR Equanimeous St. Brown returning to their lineup after finishing last year on the season-ending injured reserve.

“I’m excited about getting EQ back from injury and seeing how he feels,” Rodgers said, via Zach Kruse of PackersWire. “He really made some great strides his rookie year, especially towards the end of the season, making plays for us and growing each week. He has a great approach to the game. It will be fun to see him healthy.”

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said he’s really excited about their receiving corps and believes St. Brown will continue to improve given it’s his third year in the NFL. 

“I really like our group of young receivers and where they’re headed,” Gutekunst said. “I’ve always talked how, I think it’s very true if you look back, that most receivers in this league really start to come into their own in Year 3. Look back at our history here, with guys like Davante (Adams) and Jordy (Nelson), that’s really where they’ve started to come into their own. So I’m excited for those guys.”