NFC Notes: Bears, Packers, Vikings

Bears

Bears HC Matt Nagy said QBs Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles had a “slow start” at Tuesday’s practice. 

“I thought it was a little slow start at first, so we had to get on them a little bit,” Nagy said, via Adam Hoge of NBC Chicago. “I think that’s a little bit natural, but they reacted well after those 1-on-1s and we were able to get in our long drive drill there at the end of practice where we go 18 plays with the (first-team). It gets them a little bit conditioned.”

Nagy feels there were a few passes where Trubisky could’ve done better with his accuracy. 

“There’s a couple balls I think he would want back, a few here or there just with the accuracy might not be exactly what he wanted,” Nagy said.

Nagy said both Foles and Trubisky did well in 7-on-7s with progressions and check-downs. 

“I thought both of them, there’s a couple progressions with the eyes making sure – especially in 7-on-7 — test it downfield instead of taking a checkdown. I thought you saw a little bit of that from both of them today. (7-on-7s) is a good time to test it, even if it’s not so much the greatest read, test it and see what some of these players can do. That’s okay though. We just keep rolling, we keep getting after it.”

• The Athletic’s Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain write that so far some of the same accuracy issues that have plagued Trubisky have shown up during the team’s quarterback competition. 
• However, Foles has not really taken advantage of them and has checked down too often during practice, showing a reticence to air the ball out deep. 
• Bears WR Anthony Miller made his first appearance in team drills during camp. 

Packers

• Per the Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, Packers OL coach Adam Stenavich has been impressed with what Lane Taylor has done at right guard in training camp: “He’s done a really good job. He’s come out hot and he’s playing hard every day. It’s fun to watch. Obviously, I think, has a little chip on his shoulder.”
• Taylor was speculated as a potential cap casualty this offseason but he’s made a strong bid to stay as the starter at right guard and kick Billy Turner out to compete at right tackle with currently injured OT Rick Wagner. 

Vikings

For now, Vikings first-round WR Justin Jefferson is still running behind WR Olabisi Johnson as the team’s No. 3 receiver. Given how the Vikings use a relatively low number of three-receiver sets compared to other teams, that could mean a limited role for Jefferson to start the year. But the coaching staff has been impressed by what they’ve seen from Jefferson so far. He’s shown a familiarity with the slot like in college, where he’s currently running with the first-team offense, and his route running has enabled him to play outside with the second string so far. 

“We knew he was a very talented young man that had a comfort zone in the slot because he did that a lot,” Vikings OC Gary Kubiak said via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. “I play him a little bit of everywhere, teaching him my offense, understanding schemes and what we’re doing. But a very good route runner … when you sit there and talk routes and stuff, this kid’s very knowledgeable. He’s been coached by some good coaches before he got here. So he’s working.”