NFC Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers

Bears

Bears’ RB Damien Williams is returning after opting-out for the Chiefs last season. So far the transition has been easy for him as he hasn’t had to learn a new system on offense. However,  he may need to be ready to step in as RB David Montgomery‘s backup if RB Tarik Cohen is unavailable for Chicago in Week 1. 

“Sitting out a year and then coming back, I really didn’t want to learn a whole new system,” Williams said, via ChicagoBears.com. “Coming here and kind of having the same system, same plays, it was easy for me. And then meeting the coaches, meeting everybody in the building, it was just easy for me.”

• Bucky Brooks of NFL.com thinks the Bears could end up being strong a trade candidate for Patriots WR N’Keal Harry, who has requested a trade out of New England.

Lions

Lions’ new QB Jared Goff mentioned that the organization has a wealth of former players as coaches like HC Dan Campbell, WRs coach Antwaan Randle El, RBs coach Duce Staley, OC Anthony Lynn, and OL coach Hank Fraley.

“It’s been interesting. I’ve had former players coach me in the past, but never this many,” Goff said, via Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “It’s cool. It’s fun. A guy like [Antwaan] Randle El, he played at a high level for a long time and knows what he’s talking about and the same way for everyone else. But, at the receiver position, he’s done it. You’ve seen it. Duce [Staley], he’s done it. Hank [Fraley], he’s done it. Dan [Campbell], obviously has done it. A-Lynn [Anthony Lynn], done it. All these guys have done it at a high level playing it, so it’s easy to communicate and easy for them to understand it from a player’s view.”

Lions’ new RB Jamaal Williams said that the coaching staff’s experience in the league is apparent around the locker room. 

“Most definitely, because they’ve been through it,” Williams said. “And, you can think ‘What can they say that’s gonna benefit me?’ but it’s like ‘Oh yeah, because they played in the league,’ or ‘Oh, yeah, because of their accolades.’ So, it’s like you can’t diss them for their experience, but coaches who’ve played, yeah, because they’ve been through it. They know.”

Packers

• Bucky Brooks of NFL.com thinks the Packers could end up being strong a trade candidate for Patriots WR N’Keal Harry, who has requested a trade out of New England.