NFC Notes: Bears, Lions, Seahawks

Bears

• According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, while the Bears do think QB Mitchell Trubisky needs to play better, they have confidence in him at starting quarterback as they’re looking for better play from the entire offense. 
• Bears OT Bobby Massie suffered a high ankle sprain and will miss the next few weeks. (Rapoport)
• Bears CB Sherrick McManis has a potentially torn groin muscle which would sideline him for the rest of the year. (Brad Biggs)

Lions

2019 has been one of the worst seasons in franchise history defensively for the Detroit Lions, a fact made even more frustrating by the level of investment the team has made on that side of the ball in the draft and free agency under HC Matt Patricia — who was hired for his proficiency as the Patriots defensive coordinator. After a loss to the Redskins on Sunday, Patricia didn’t offer any clarity into whether he or DC Paul Pasqualoni was the primary defensive play-caller. 

“Again, like I’ve said before, I have a lot of different roles on game day and certainly from that standpoint, I’m very active in the communication from all phases of the game, all three phases,” Patricia said via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “So there’s going to be plays out there that I can call, there’s going to be plays out there Coach P’s calling, there’s going to be plays out there that certainly are just kind of automatic calls for us.”

Seahawks

Seahawks DE Jadeveon Clowney ended up being inactive for Sunday’s game against the Eagles after traveling out early to Philadelphia to see a specialist for a hip/core muscle injury. According to HC Pete Carroll, while the treatment made Clowney feel worse immediately afterward, the hope is the long-term benefit outweighs that. 

“He went out there and they had to evaluate whether or not they were going to give him the treatment and the treatment made him more uncomfortable . . . it’ll be better for the long haul,” Carroll said on 710 ESPN Seattle.

• NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Seahawks are hoping Clowney can return by next Monday night’s game against