NFC Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings

Bears

• ESPN’s Dan Graziano mentioned that the Bears as a team that makes some sense for RB Le’Veon Bell. 
• Bears HC Matt Nagy, when asked about Bell, said he thinks Bell is a good back but added: “We absolutely love our RBs here and our situation, and I’ll leave the stuff up to Ryan (Pace).” (Kimberley Martin)
• Bears OL coach Juan Castillo will be away from the team and in-person contact until Sunday after having a close contact away from the team test positive. (Brad Biggs)

Lions

Lions QB Matthew Stafford hasn’t been bad to start 2020. But when other offenses are exploding, Stafford remains stuck in neutral in Detroit. His 60.58 completion percentage has the Lions ranked 29th in the NFL. While OC Darrell Bevell says Stafford’s back injury that knocked him out last year isn’t still affecting him, he acknowledged he’s talked to Stafford about improving his footwork. 

“I think there’s a lot of things that really go into (how he’s played this year),” Bevell said via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “But I think when you simplify it as easy you can for the quarterback, I had a small conversation with him about it, I think it usually goes back to your feet, because your feet really tell you the story. Your feet is what gets you through your progressions, gets you through the play, and I think that we can continue (to get better there).”

• The Athletic’s Chris Burke says there’s almost no way the Lions trade Stafford this season, as GM Bob Quinn would be signing his own pink slip by making the move and owner Sheila Ford Hamp would want the potential next regime to decide Stafford’s future. 
• Burke writes WR Marvin Jones is the most tradable asset the Lions have right now and Detroit could potentially get a fourth or a fifth-round pick from another team like the Patriots before the deadline. 
• He adds if the Lions can get any type of pick for LB Jarrad Davis they should probably jump on that deal. 
• While the Lions just signed S Duron Harmon and he has a leadership role in their secondary, Burke highlights him as someone who would have value if shopped. 

Packers

• The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman doesn’t expect the Packers to re-sign RB Jamaal Williams unless they are unable to reach an agreement with RB Aaron Jones on an extension. 
• He adds that he thinks there’s a better chance the Packers re-sign CB Kevin King than C Corey Linsley given the positional value of corner compared to center. 
• Packers WR Davante Adams said his hamstring is back to 100 percent and he’s ready to play: “I feel like we’ve given it ample time. … We’ll wait for the call.” (Ryan Wood)

Vikings

• Per the Athletic’s Chad Graff, Vikings HC Mike Zimmer said he still didn’t have much clarity on the situation with DE Danielle Hunter and his neck injury: “Still kind of mulling his options I think.”
• Zimmer also pumped the brakes on RB Dalvin Cook being ruled out for this week’s game against the Falcons already: “I talked to him today and he said he’s feeling really good. So we’ll see … we’ll see how it goes.” (Courtney Cronin)
• For what it’s worth, Cronin and other beat reporters think Zimmer could be employing some gamesmanship, as other sources have termed Cook unlikely for this week with his groin injury and the bye coming up. 
• Cook said he’s feeling better a couple days removed from the injury but wouldn’t commit to anything: “I feel better. As for my Atlanta status, we’re going to take this thing day by day.” (Graff)
• Cook tried to come back into the game for a snap but he realized pretty quickly he couldn’t pull it off: “I just wasn’t able to be Dalvin.” (Andrew Krammer)
• He said he learned from his experience with a hamstring injury in 2018 to listen to his body: “You’ve got to kind of let your body naturally heal.” (Graff)
• The Vikings are interested in bringing back DT Hercules Mata’afa to the practice squad if he clears waivers. (Chris Tomasson)