NFC Notes: Bears, Packers, Vikings

Bears

Bears WR Darnell Mooney said first-round QB Justin Fields has been impressive during OTAs and referred to him a “very accurate” passer. 

“It’s a beautiful ball, man,” Mooney said, via Stephanie Stremplewski of NBC Sports. “He (Fields) knows where he wants to put it and it’s very accurate. Sometimes it can get there at the right ball, but he wants it out in front of you and he’ll get frustrated with his self if it’s not there. He’s very tough on his self. He’s a great player, great person as well, and he’s gonna have a good career.”

Mooney reiterated that Fields’ accuracy has stood out in his brief amount of work with the rookie quarterback. 

“I’ve caught one or two deep balls from him,” Mooney said. “The very first one that he threw up to me I was smiling mid-route of just seeing the ball in the air and just where it was placed. He’s very accurate with his ball and he understands exactly where he wants the ball.”

Mooney added that the Bears’ offense is working on building chemistry and hopes to help create a more “powerful offense this year.” 

“We got a lot of new guys coming in, and just building that chemistry with each other,” Mooney said. “Just being more of a powerful offense this year of helping out the defense as much as we can because we know we have a strong defense and if we’re able to put up a lot of points it would be very beneficial for our defense.”

Packers

Packers OL coach Adam Stenavich believes OT Elgton Jenkins can become a “rare” player in the NFL based on his athleticism after playing as an interior lineman during his college career. 

“He’s a rare guy in this league, a guy that has the athleticism to play on the edge,” Stenavich said, via PackersWire. “Usually, you get your centers and guards, they don’t have that combination of length and athleticism to go out at tackle and compete with the good edge rushers out there, but Elgton has those tools. He has the size, he’s got the length. So he’s a very versatile guy, a very intelligent player. You can move him around and the game’s not too big for him. He understands everything. Extremely football smart. Moving him out to tackle, it might not be his absolute best position, but he’s still a very, very good tackle.”

Packers OT David Bakhtiari said he’s still working his way back from his knee injury and is hopeful to just be “as healthy as possible.”

“I’ve really just thrown the book at my knee and my goal is just whatever I can do to put my knee in the best situation to come back as healthy as possible,” Bakhtiari said, via Olivia Reiner of PackersNews. “As soon as possible is what I’m working on and I’m working towards.”

Packers WR Davante Adams denied there being any concerted effort between the team’s receivers to skip OTAs.

“I didn’t think we were gonna be coming out here,” Adams said. “(I) had a lot of stuff going on. Still getting in the flow. I liked how I came back into camp last year (after virtual OTAs) from doing my thing. So I felt pretty good about my training and making sure I was in a good spot to come back ready.”

Adams indicated that he does not plan on skipping out on training camp. 

“I’ll be here,” Adams said. “I signed up to go to work and play. I’m from East Palo Alto, California. I grew up with zero dollars. I’m not forfeiting any of my money that I’ve earned and signed for already.”

Vikings

Vikings QB Kirk Cousins said he wasn’t offended by the team taking QB Kellen Mond in the third round. 

“There was good communication through the process, and Kellen’s been great, working hard and picking up our offense quickly,” Cousins said, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “So, it’s been a good process.”

Cousins said he wants to be to Mond what QB Rex Grossman was to him in his rookie season.

“It was great to be able to learn from [Grossman], and he was a big part of my early development as a football player. I really took every word he said to heart because I felt he’d been there, done that and he should know what it looked like. I hung on his every word. I’ve been there and want to certainly be that same resource whenever possible,” Cousins said.