NFC Notes: Bears, Lions, Vikings

Bears

Bears HC Matt Nagy told reporters on Saturday that he will not publicly name a starting quarterback prior to their season opener against the Lions.

Nagy also declined to say whether Nick Foles or Mitch Trubisky has played better than the other up to this point in training camp.

“For us, we like where they are at, but that’s an internal question for our coaches,” Nagy said. “That’s more gamesmanship than anything. But we know there can definitely be improvement for both of them. They are making good decisions. There are times they are making good throws. There are times they are making throws they’d like to have back.

“I’ll put it this way: Intentionally, I’m not going to give you any direction right now.”

Trubisky said he’s not sure where things stand in the competition. 

“I’m not exactly sure [where it all stands],” Trubisky said. “I think that’d be a good conversation to have with coach probably Sunday, see how we did after the scrimmage, go back and watch some film and then have one more big week of practice before I would say they probably make a decision. But they really haven’t told us where we’re at or when the deadline is.”

Foles added that his focus is simply on going out an executing in practice. 

“I honestly haven’t asked for any feedback. I just want to go out there and help this team, play out there, go execute these plays and help this offense and help this team in whatever role that may be. My focus is that,” Foles said. 

“I’m not even thinking about it. I’m just thinking about being the best player I can be for this team. With that, that’s where the coaches know I stand. That’s how I’ve been throughout my career. And so why would I change right now and all of a sudden let this thing overtake me?”

Lions

Lions HC Matt Patricia feels that missing a full offseason program “is a concern” for rookie NFL players. 

“I think (missing time) in general, with rookies, is a concern,” Patricia said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “Just in general with a normal season when we have the spring and we have the preseason and when we get to the regular season, things happen a lot quicker and they’re a little bit more complex than what we’ve seen.”

Regarding Lions’ second-round RB D’Andre Swift, Patricia said they are making sure the running back is properly acclimated and ready to handle game situations. 

“So we’re going to have to do a good job of making sure that he’s acclimated when he is ready to go to be in situations that we think he can handle and kind of work him in that way until we build up a little bit of a background, a little bit of a repertoire for him where he knows maybe what he’s going to see in those certain situations.”

Patricia added that Swift has done well adapting to the speed of practice and appears “most comfortable” when carrying the ball. 

“Swift’s done a nice job obviously of, being thrown into the fire as a rookie a little bit in training camp with no offseason is tough,” Patricia said. “Tough mentally, tough physically and not really sure what to expect if you’re that guy, young guys as rookies coming in. But I think he’s done a nice job just trying to adapt and get on the program and go. Obviously, when he has the ball in his hands is probably when he’s most comfortable. He’s a talented guy running with the football. He does a nice job out of the backfield catching the ball as well. Just looking for him to be the best version of himself he can be.”

Vikings

• Chad Graff of The Athletic lists his rising and falling Vikings during training camp this offseason. Among those on the rise are CB Cameron Dantzler, CB Holton Hill, WR Olabisi Johnson, DE Eddie Yarbrough, and WR Alexander Hollins.
• Those not having a great camp included DT James Lynch, QB Jake Browning, G Dru Samia, and TE Brandon Dillon.

• Vikings’ HC Mike Zimmer mentioned the injury to DE Danielle Hunter, who missed his tenth straight practice: “He’s got a little tweak. Sometimes they take a long time. The injury report will come out (Sept. 9 for the Sept. 13 opener against Green Bay). Then you’ll know.’’ (Tomasson)