NFC Notes: Bears, Packers, Vikings

Bears

Bears TE Cole Kmet has taken a solid step forward in his second season. But Chicago wants to see even more because they believe in the 22-year-oldโ€™s potential. Theyโ€™re also confident heโ€™ll be able to reach it. 

โ€œI think in the pass game you want to see the savviness and detail that sometimes comes just with experience of running some of the routes,โ€ Bears OC Bill Lazor said via the Athleticโ€™s Kevin Fishbain. โ€œHe canโ€™t control the coverage โ€” whether he gets man or doesnโ€™t get man. But I think as you watch guys, if you can look into the future with what Coleโ€™s physical abilities are and how smart he is, how conscientious he is, I mean I think youโ€™re going to see a guy who, over time, maxes out his physical ability with exactly how you run the routes.โ€

  • Fishbain lists the Bearsโ€™ top needs for 2022 as offensive line, wide receiver, and cornerback. 

Packers

  • Packers WR Allen Lazard said he was honored to catch QB Aaron Rodgersโ€˜ record-breaking 443rd touchdown pass with the team: โ€œIt was a huge moment of gratitude. It was just a very grounding moment for me.โ€ (Ryan Wood)
  • Rodgers said it was surreal to break this record: โ€œTo be apart of history like thatโ€ฆis something Iโ€™m proud of and extremely grateful for, the opportunity to play here for so long. โ€ฆThis is a special place. To be a part of history like this is not lost on me at allโ€career. To break the record on a simple play like that, itโ€™s pretty cool.โ€ (Wes Hodkiewicz)
  • Packers WR Davante Adams said the offense needs to finish better: โ€œTo a certain extent we got lucky. We did enough later on to cover our butt. Thatโ€™s not our brand of ball.โ€ (Tom Silverstein)
  • Rodgers agreed that it is the offenseโ€™s job to play a complete game: โ€œWe gotta do a better job of closing games out. Thatโ€™s on us (the offense).โ€ (Schneidman)
  • Rodgers gave credit to the way the defense played by forcing four turnovers: โ€œOur defense has done a really good job of coming up with big playsโ€ฆIt was bend but donโ€™t break.โ€ (Silverstein)
  • Adams added CB Rasul Douglas has been a huge reason why the team is 12-3: โ€œI think itโ€™s pretty safe to say heโ€™s a superstar at the cornerback position.โ€ (Matt Schneidman)
  • Rodgers agreed with Adamsโ€™ take: โ€œI donโ€™t think Rasul is a role player โ€“ heโ€™s a star. โ€ฆ Heโ€™s changed our team.โ€ (Hodkiewicz)
  • Douglas, however, doesnโ€™t think of himself as a superstar: โ€œI donโ€™t think Iโ€™m a superstar yet. Weโ€™ve got two superstars on our team, 12 and 17.โ€ (Wood)
  • Packers HC Matt LaFleur has been impressed by Douglasโ€™ ability to thrive on the team without an offseason: โ€œIโ€™ve never seen anything like this in my time in the National Football League, where somebody who comes in midseason has such tremendous impact on your football team.โ€ (Wood)
  • LaFleur mentioned, despite the win, they have a lot to work on: โ€œI think thereโ€™s a lot of mixed feelings. The splash plays are great, obviously. The difference in the game was the four turnovers and the sacks, but I would say down in and down out we have to be more consistent.โ€ (Wood)
  • LaFleur specifically mentioned tackling as an area where they need to improve: โ€œWe have to do a better job of tackling. That was probably our worst job of tackling.โ€ (Silverstein)
  • LaFleur said he doesnโ€™t take for granted having a quarterback like Rodgers: โ€œWeโ€™re fortunate to have a guy like him whoโ€™s able to make not just the decisions, but throw with accuracy.โ€ (Wood)
  • On OL Yosh Nijman, LaFleur said he has come up huge for them: โ€œIโ€™m super proud of him, just the work that he puts in on a daily basis, his approach to the game, and how much it means to him. And itโ€™s evident.โ€ (Wood)
  • Rodgers said this was the best his broken toe felt in a while, but heโ€™s hoping it feels the same throughout the week: โ€œWeโ€™re hoping there wasnโ€™t a major setback tonight. It feels OK right now sitting here.โ€ (Schneidman)

Vikings

  • Vikingsโ€™ LB Eric Kendricks was fined $10,300 for unnecessary roughness for his hit on Bearsโ€™ QB Justin Fields that led to his ejection. (Ian Rapoport)
  • Vikingsโ€™ QB Kirk Cousins when asked if he was impacted by his rib injury on Sunday against the Rams: โ€œIt didnโ€™t impact me. I felt fine.โ€ (Chris Tomasson)
  • Cousins, who is unvaccinated, on the COVID-19 situation affecting the quarterback room this week: โ€œIt just is what it is. At this point, you just have to follow the protocols, be disciplined and thereโ€™s a lot of people not testing. So, itโ€™s in our building. Itโ€™s going to be in our building. Itโ€™s going to spread. Weโ€™ve just got to be disciplined to keep our distance and make sure that to the best of our ability we donโ€™t get it but it is going to be difficult.โ€ (Courtney Cronin)

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