NFC Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings

Bears

• The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain notes Bears TE Cole Kmet is serving long snapper duties with LS Patrick Scales on the COVID-19 list.
• Bears TE Jimmy Graham had high praise for first-round QB Justin Fields, saying the rookie has a good work ethic and impressive arm strength: “I love the kid. He sits beside me in the locker room. Man, he wants to be good. He wants to be great. And he puts in the work. The guy really can throw the ball. That’s been impressive to see his arm strength.” (Fishbain)
• According to Aaron Wilson, the Bears brought in OL Gage Cervenka for a visit.

Lions

Lions first-round OT Penei Sewell admitted earlier this offseason that the switch from playing on the left side in college to the right side in Detroit was giving him some issues. Now he’s settled into the role, though. 

“It’s been good. Now I’m a right tackle, you know what I mean? It’s fun,” he said via NFL Media. “I just enjoy every step, enjoy every learning curve because there’s going to be battles. I’m in the league now, I’m here with the big boys so I just gotta know that everything happens for a reason. It’s next-play mentality, I can only control what’s ahead of me and not what’s behind me.”

• PFN’s Adam Beasley notes there have been some familiar criticisms of Lions QB Jared Goff, namely he continues to check down more than be aggressive and struggles to adapt when the coaches change things up. 
• Lions HC Dan Campbell mentioned OT Tyrell Crosby could miss “a week or so” after sustaining a Grade 1 pulled hamstring. (Chris Burke)
• Campbell added OLB Julian Okwara is dealing with bruised rib while RB D’Andre Swift is limited due to a groin issue. (Justin Rogers)
• Lions DT Michael Brockers (leg) was also limited in Thursday’s practice. 

Packers

• Packers HC Matt LaFleur said they will ease TE Josiah Deguara back into practice after recently being activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list, will be limited to individual work today: “We’re going to slowly integrate him back into the flow of things.” (Ryan Wood)
• LaFleur believes he has “a feel” of backup QB Jordan Love but there’s an obvious difference between practice and live reps. He adds Love obviously is far behind Aaron Rodgers in terms of what the veteran can do at the line of scrimmage. (Ryan Wood)
• Regarding Love’s scrambling ability, LaFleur said he wants the quarterback to focus on his targets downfield but mentioned that Love can manipulate the pocket with his speed: “Certainly we don’t ever want to pass up an open receiver to go off schedule. I think he has the athleticism to manipulate and move up in the pocket… Ultimately, it’s such a feel thing. You always want the QB to keep his eyes downfield.” (Ryan Wood)
• Regarding the Packers’ offensive line, LaFleur said Lucas Patrick is getting first-team reps at right guard with OT David Bakhtiari out.
• Once Bakhtiari returns, LaFleur said OL Elgton Jenkins will return to his natural guard role, while Patrick will compete with Jenkins for an interior role as well: “There’s a competition everywhere, but specifically those interior spots, for sure.” (Ryan Wood)

Vikings

• Vikings QB Kirk Cousins, who was placed on the COVID-19 list earlier this week, said he’s had “six negative tests” since being around third-round QB Kellen Mond, who is also on the reserve list. (Chris Tomasson)
• Cousins said he didn’t expect issues to arise with the Vikings’ meeting room, which was too small and created a situation where he was deemed a close contact: “I was not aware of the meeting room size being an issue.” (Chris Tomasson)
• Vikings CB Cameron Dantzler said players in their secondary must take the “next step up” after CB Jeff Gladney was cut: “Coach always says next man up. We have a lot of depth at the DB position. So the next guy has to step up and make plays.” (Chris Tomasson)
• Dantzler said Vikings WR K.J. Osborn has been impressive in training camp: “He’s been looking great so far in training camp.” (Chris Tomasson)
• Vikings first-round LT Christian Darrisaw said he was happy to be back practicing after missing time with a groin injury: “Mentally, I feel like I was there. Like physically, I wasn’t able to go out there and do everything. But learning the playbook mentally I was still good.” (Chris Tomasson)
• Darrisaw added he still believes he is on pace to start week one despite the missed time: “Even though I was missing time, I was still in my playbook … When I’m out here I’ve just got to show the coaches that I can do what I can do.” (Tomasson)
• Vikings RB Alexander Mattison said his offseason was all about getting right mentally: “I definitely took more time this off-season for my mental health. It’s something that I’d like to emphasize. There’s a lot of pressure on me, coming off of some different family things, finishing up school on top of football and everything.” (Arif Hasan)
• Vikings second-round G Wyatt Davis said he isn’t focusing on being a starter right now after returning to practice: “I’m not really even concerned about that right now. I’m just trying to learn the playbook & do everything right because if I do that right it would lead to the rest I have a lot of things I have to work on before I start thinking about that” (Tomasson)