Bears
The Bears dropped their sixth-straight game to fall to 5-7 on the season and that meant more questions about job security for HC Matt Nagy. He was asked if the topic has come up with ownership or president Ted Phillips and said it has not, but there is still regular communication with everyone in charge of the team.
“We all have a really good communication,” Nagy said via ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson. “I think that’s one of the things I know Ryan and I really appreciate from George and Ted is the communication process that we’ve used over the last three years. It’s very open. There’s a lot of listening on both sides and then there’s a togetherness and understanding the whys, I think.”
Asked if he feels like he still has the support of ownership, Nagy had a shorter response.
“Yeah, I do,” he said.
- The Athletic’s Adam Jahns writes there have been rumblings the past few weeks about how irate Bears chairman George McCaskey is with the team. Jahns thinks serious changes are just a matter of when and how deep they cut.
- Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer wouldn’t be surprised if Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh is interested in the Bears job if it becomes available.
Lions
The Lions came back to win in dramatic fashion on Sunday against the Bears, completing a 10-point fourth-quarter comeback to win 34-30 in interim HC Darrell Bevell‘s first game in charge. Bevell immediately switched things up and loosened the reins in comparison to former HC Matt Patricia‘s totalitarian and unpopular approach. The initial results were promising.
“I think his energy is infectious and guys feed off it and I really appreciate him as a person and just happy that he helped us get the win today,” Lions QB Matthew Stafford said via ESPN’s Michael Rothstein. “Guys went out there and played fast and free and it wasn’t perfect, you know, there’s plays we want back, but never quit, never really looked at the scoreboard. Just keep playing and let it all kind of figure itself out and it did.”
- According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the Lions don’t plan to use a search firm for their head coach and general manager search.
- 49ers DC Robert Saleh, a Michigan native, is drawing a lot of buzz for the Lions opening, even receiving a recommendation from the Michigan legislature. But Saleh isn’t presuming the job is his: “It’s flattering and all, but I would still imagine that the Lions will go their due diligence and go through their process and still try to find a way to hire the best man, best men for that job.” (Rothstein)
- Bevell explained he and team president Rod Wood, VP of football administration Mike Disner, director of player personnel Lance Newmark, VP of player personnel Kyle O’Brien and director of pro scouting Rob Lohman are effectively serving as an interim general manager committee.
Packers
- Per the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Ryan Wood, Packers HC Matt LaFleur said he’s very concerned DT Billy Winn‘s triceps injury will be season-ending.
- Rob Devemosky mentions that the ackers fear they could be without S Raven Greene (shoulder), WR/RB/KR Tyler Ervin (ankle) and Winn for a significant amount of time and possibly the rest of the season.
- LaFleur noted WR Tavon Austin could be in for a bigger role with RB Tyler Ervin injured: “He’s got to be ready to go, and I think he was ready to go last week.” (Wood)
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