NFC Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings

Bears

• ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson lists Bears WR Ted Ginn as a potential trade candidate, as the veteran has fallen out of the rotation in Chicago but could still be a deep threat elsewhere. 
• The Athletic’s Kevin Fisbain and Adam Jahns think Chicago would be on board with potentially trading a conditional seventh-round pick to the Bengals for WR John Ross.

Lions

Lions OC Darrell Bevell said they must find “creative” ways to get veteran WR Marvin Jones more involved in their offense. 

“Does he want the ball? Absolutely,” Bevell said, via Justin Rogers of the Detroit News. “Do we want him to have the ball in his hands? Absolutely. And we’re going to continue to look for ways and try to get creative to make sure that the ball goes to him.”

Bevell added that opposing defenses have taken away Jones, which the receiver fully understands. 

“Sometimes you have a game plan that, hey, this play is gonna go to him, this play is gonna go to him, then the defense can dictate a little bit differently, just in terms of what coverage comes. I think he’s been fully understanding of that. He knows the opportunities that we’ve been trying to get him, but we’ll continue to work to get him more involved.”

Bevell praised Jones for his work in run blocking and not demanding more attention in the passing game. 

“I really think Marv has done a really nice job for us,” Bevell said. “I kind of complimented him yesterday because wide receivers want to catch the ball. They want to catch and run and make big plays that way. But if you go back and look at some of the dirty work that he’s done in the run game, I think it really speaks a lot to who he is and how much he wants to help us offensively just any way that he can.”

• ESPN’s Michael Rothstein lists Jones as a potential trade candidate since he’s in the final year of his deal, though with Lions GM Bob Quinn and HC Matt Patricia on the hot seat, it’s a move they’re not likely to make. 

Packers

• ESPN’s Rob Demovsky lists Packers DL Montravius Adams as a potential trade candidate, as the former third-round pick is in the final year of his deal and hasn’t found a consistent role in Green Bay yet. 
• The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman writes the Packers could look to add a tight end, wide receiver and defensive line as positions Green Bay could look to address before the trade deadline. 
• Schneidman highlights Texans DL J.J. Watt and WR Will Fuller as potentially compelling pieces for Green Bay to look into. 
• As far as players Green Bay could trade away, Schneidman mentions former second-round CB Josh Jackson and 2019 third-round TE Jace Sternberger. Jackson has been a bust and Schneidman doesn’t think Sternberger is in the team’s long-term plans. 
• Green Bay could trade for Seahawks TE Jacob Hollister to replace Sternberger, per Schneidman.
• He also mentions former third-round LB Oren Burks could be more of interest to a team like the Steelers. 
• Packers HC Matt LaFleur didn’t offer any specifics on the team’s plans but did say GM Brian Gutekunst was being active as usual: “I know he’s working hard to try to find different ways to always help us improve our roster.” (Demovsky)

Vikings

• ESPN’s Courtney Cronin lists Vikings OT Riley Reiff as a potential trade candidate, as other teams need help at tackle and Minnesota was ready to cut Reiff this summer before a pay cut. 
• Vikings GM Rick Spielman disagreed that the team’s trade of DE Yannick Ngakoue merely two months after acquiring him meant they were rebuilding, pointing to RB Dalvin Cook, WRs Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen and TE Irv Smith: “I don’t know if you’d call that a rebuild or not.” (Chad Graff)
• Spielman also defended QB Kirk Cousins despite his poor play of late: “I don’t have any doubt that he’s going to be able to rally. … I don’t think anyone has lost any faith in Kirk Cousins.” (Graff)
• Spielman said no veterans have come to him and requested to be traded. (Graff)
• The Vikings are hosting DB Marcus Sayles for a visit. (Aaron Wilson)