NFC Notes: Bears, Packers, Vikings

Bears

Bears WRs coach Mike Furrey mentioned that second-year WR Riley Ridley is poised to have a breakout season in his second year as a pro.

“I think the biggest growth we’re going to see with anybody in our room is going to be Riley Ridley,” Furrey said, via the Chicago Sun-Times. “His preparation right now, his attitude, his desire, the passion he has to become successful in this game — he loves the process. And I believe when you love the process, it’s going to be successful. And so I’m excited about Riley. From the time we left the last snap last year to where we will be this training camp, you’re going to have a guy coming in that now has the confidence he can play in the NFL. He’s done things in the NFL now. He’s had production – obviously late, but he’s had production.”

Despite the lack of production, Furrey believes that Ridley will make a big impact on the Bears roster in 2020.

“So now you have a guy that’s going to be hungry coming in and showing up with all of those comfortable traits, of not worrying about those,” Furrey added. “He knows now he can do those things, and now he understands the process of what it takes. I know this kid is working as hard as he possibly can right now in preparation for that training camp. And so I’m very, very excited to get Riley Ridley into camp. And I believe he’s going to make some noise on our roster.”

Packers

Packers RB Aaron Jones is excited to welcome rookie RB A.J. Dillon into the team’s offense and says that the addition of Dillon will help to raise his game to the next level.

“I know it’s the NFL,” Jones said, via NFL.com. “They’re bringing in guys every day to compete so I mean it’s just gonna raise my game and I’m excited to have him there and start working with him, teaching him the playbook and everything.” 

Vikings

• Field Yates of ESPN proposes the Vikings trade OT Riley Reiff (and agree to pay $3.8 million of his 2020 base salary) to the Chargers for CB Desmond King II.
• Yates explains that the Vikings drafted Ezra Cleveland to be the heir apparent to Reiff. Beyond that, Minnesota is in a tough cap situation right now, so moving Reiff would give them some cap flexibility.
• The Vikings have been retooling their secondary this offseason and King would give them a versatile defensive back to move around where needed.
• Yates adds that the Chargers still have a hole at left tackle and Reiff is owed up to $18.85 million over the next year years and is still only 31 years old.
• The Chargers have added to their secondary this offseason to the point where there’s at least some question about how much playing time King will have in 2020.