NFC Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers

Bears

The Bears offense struggled once again in Week 9, mustering just three points until the fourth quarter when they were able to make the 24-17 final score look respectable. But there’s little respectable about the Bears offense through half the season and the team is at a loss for what the problem is. 

“If I had that answer, we probably wouldn’t be here,” Bears QB Nick Foles said via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “The only thing I can say is that we have to continue to keep working. I don’t know what you all expect me to say. But other than [that] I believe we that we have to keep working at it and keep grinding and keep figuring out what we want to do and how we want to do it. That’s the only way to be, because quite frankly, we’re the ones in it.”

• Bears HC Matt Nagy said evaluating whether he will remain the offensive play-caller is something the staff will look at, though he added he wouldn’t reveal the decision publicly: “I’m looking at all that right now … We’ll see. We’ll talk through all that.” (Dan Wiederer)
• Bears RB David Montgomery is in the concussion protocol while CB Sherrick McManis has a broken finger. (Kevin Fishbain)

Lions

Lions QB Matthew Stafford was able to play Sunday against the Vikings, but he had a rough week and it showed. After being exposed to someone who tested positive for the virus, Stafford had to isolate from the team and his family in the high-risk protocol. Not practicing all week was hard, but the lack of contact with his wife and four daughters was even harder, especially after one of his kids fell out of a high chair and suffered a concussion, which nearly caused Stafford to break his isolation and end his chances of playing. 

“I understand it’s a pandemic and people’s health and safety are at risk, and I would feel terrible if I brought that in and infected a bunch of teammates or coaches or whatever it is,” Stafford said via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “It doesn’t make it easy, but everybody in the league’s doing it. I just hate being away from my family. Finish a practice, finish a game, go hug my daughters, hug my wife, that’s what sometimes makes it worth it for me, and not being able to see them and hang with them has been really tough. But there’s other people dealing with the same kind of stuff I am. But that’s just the hard part for me.”

• NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport writes Stafford did clear the concussion protocol after leaving the game Sunday. 

Packers

• According to the Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, Packers LB Krys Barnes, RB AJ Dillon and QB Jordan Love all remain on the COVID-19 list.
• Packers CB Jaire Alexander was also out Monday due to the concussion protocol.  
• Packers activated RB Jamaal Williams and LB Kamal Martin from the COVID-19 list. (NFLTR)