NFC Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings

Bears

  • The Bears announced that OL Coach Juan Castillo will not travel with the team to the Carolina Panthers after being in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

Lions

Lionsโ€™ return specialist Jamal Agnew said assistant coach Leon Washington, who is tied for the NFLโ€™s most career kick returns for a touchdown with eight, is pushing him to beat his record. 

โ€œHe definitely pushes me,โ€ Agnew said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. โ€œWe talk back and forth a little bit. I keep telling him Iโ€™m going to catch him. Iโ€™m going to catch him, but itโ€™s just going to take time. Iโ€™ve got to make the smart play, make the great decisions, and itโ€™ll come.โ€

Agnew called the number of fair catches heโ€™s had this season โ€œreally frustratingโ€ and is trying to be patient with his opportunities. 

โ€œItโ€™s actually really frustrating,โ€ Agnew said. โ€œ(Washington) always preaches to me just be patient, those opportunities are going to come, and itโ€™s been helping me a lot. Obviously, in the past Iโ€™ve tried to force some stuff, but thankfully for Lee โ€” I call him Lee โ€” he helps me stay a little even keel, stay a little patient.โ€

Packers

  • ESPNโ€™s Bill Barnwell outlines a potential trade between the Packers and Texans. Houston would send WR Kenny Stills to Green Bay in exchange for a 2021 sixth-round pick. 
  • Stills is in the final year of his contract but would add some depth for a Packers receiving corps thatโ€™s been made even shallower with injuries. Houston meanwhile would recoup a pick. 

Vikings

  • The Athleticโ€™s Chad Graff says Vikings DE Danielle Hunter had shoulder pain during training camp and further tests revealed he had a herniated disc in his neck. 
  • The injury doesnโ€™t have a clear cut treatment, with options varying on the exact location of the injury. Sometimes rest and rehab are all thatโ€™s needed and other times surgery becomes a necessity. 
  • Graff adds Hunter hasnโ€™t yet decided on a final course of action but appears to be hoping it improves over time. Meanwhile, the Vikings realized it would be more severe in late August which Graff mentions prompted their trade for DE Yannick Ngakoue
  • Vikings OC Gary Kubiak said both OL Oli Udoh and second-round rookie Ezra Cleveland are getting work at both tackle and guard. He expects Cleveland to play โ€œbefore this thing is said and done.โ€ (Ben Goessling)
  • For now, though, Kubiak said the plan is to stick with Dru Samia as the starting right guard: โ€œWeโ€™ve got to continue to grow Dru, and weโ€™ve got to work to some of the mistakes, but weโ€™re also hanging onto some of the positive things heโ€™s doing. We believe in our group, and weโ€™ll just keep working.โ€

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