NFC Notes: Bears, Packers, Vikings

Bears

Bears CB Jaylon Johnson appeared on the Jim Rome Show and mentioned how he is “stepping into that responsibility” as he attempts to replace CB Kyle Fuller in Chicago’s defensive backfield.

“He was a big-time player for the Bears for many years and somebody I looked up to, and somebody I felt confident to be able to play alongside,” Johnson said, via BearsWire.com. “Now it’s about being able to take everything he taught me just from professionalism, just from being able to prepare the right way and take care of your body. There’s a lot of those things he taught me.”

Johnson was upset that the team lost Fuller to the Broncos but is also excited to be the number one cornerback for the Bears.

“Now, it’s going to be more enhanced and more important than ever being that I now have to be that number one guy that he was,” Johnson said. “For me, it’s just about being able to go out there and play and be as consistent as he was.”

Packers

Packers LT David Bakhtiari is unsure if he’ll have progressed enough in his rehab from a torn ACL to be ready in time for Week 1. 

The standard recovery for an ACL injury is nine to 12 months. Bakhtiari suffered his injury on December 31 last year, so Green Bay’s season opener on September 12 would be pushing that timeline pretty hard. 

“This is my first time going through this, so I’m just going to attack every day, try to hit every benchmark I can,” Bakhtiari said via Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal. “And once ‘Doc’ [team physician Dr. Patrick McKenzie] can check me off, I can check myself and I can go out there and not only perform and protect myself but perform at the level that the Packers need me to, I think that’s where you’ll see me return, on that date.”

• Matt Schneidman reports that the Packers don’t want to recognize Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins‘ contract when considering Davante Adams‘ potential deal. 

Vikings

• Free-agent WR Dede Westbrook spoke about Vikings’ WR coach and former NFL WR Keenan McCardell attempting to lure him away from a Seahawks visit in order to get him to visit Minnesota: “I was kind of set on Seattle and he was like ‘Darn you’re not even going to come out and give me a chance I coached you the past four years and you’re just going to fly out to Seattle and not give Minnesota a shot.” (Chris Tomasson)
• Westbrook added that McCardell is a mentor to him and was the first reach out from the Vikings, convincing him to come there before visiting Seattle. (Tomasson)
• Westbrook also commented on coming back from a torn ACL: “I haven’t played ball since October. I’m just wishing anywhere to play football. I miss the game. I love the game. I miss the thrill, the fans, and I just want to be out there.” (Tomasson)