NFC Notes: Bears, Lions, Vikings

Bears

• Per the Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain, Bears RB David Montgomery says he’s cleared the concussion protocol. 
• Bears OLB Robert Quinn admitted he hasn’t played up to his standards so far this year: “I’ll be honest, it’s been very average. Not up to my standards. We’ve got six more games left. Anything can happen.” (Fishbain)
• Bears QB Nick Foles (hip) did not practice Wednesday while QB Mitchell Trubisky (shoulder) participated in full. Bears DT Akiem Hicks (hamstring) also sat out. (Brad Biggs)
• Bears HC Matt Nagy called Foles “day-to-day” and added Trubisky looked good. (Biggs)
• Nagy said he’s been impressed by how Trubisk has handled his early-season benching: “I’m very, very impressed with how he’s grown week to week. I mean that. … It wasn’t easy by any means those first couple weeks. … If he is going, what I would say is this — I have all the confidence in the world in him.” (Fishbain)

Lions

The Lions gave OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai a deal with a big sticker price this offseason to come in and lock down the right tackle position for them. But it hasn’t exactly played out that way, as Vaitai was shifted to guard and then benched altogether this past Sunday. He was ultimately placed on injured reserve Wednesday. 

“Big V’s out there battling every day and I think he’s pushing through some things that have restricted him a little bit,” Patricia said via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “He’s a tough guy. He just goes out and really tries to do everything he can to help the team. At that point, I’ll probably leave it at that as far as that’s concerned.”

Vikings

• NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reports Vikings WR Adam Thielen was placed on the COVID-19 list after having one positive and one negative test. League officials are working to determine Thielen’s availability for Week 12. 
• Per Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Vikings HC Mike Zimmer isn’t sure if Minnesota will have Thielen this week: “I don’t know, honestly. He’s in the COVID protocol and we’ll just see… when you get in these, it’s always about what’s the next test, what’s the next test.”