NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Giants, Lions

Buccaneers

Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians told reporters after Sunday’s game that CB Vernon Hargreaves in the third quarter for a lack of hustle. 

“He didn’t look like he was hustling to go in for a tackle,” Arians said, via ESPN.com. “If that’s what Coach saw, that’s what he saw. There’s no arguing it. I need to hustle, point-blank, end of discussion. And I’ll get better. I’m sure I’ll talk with him this week and we’ll get things straightened out and we’ll see where to go from here.”

Giants

Giants HC Pat Shurmur told reporters following Sunday’s loss to the Jets that his only concern right now is finding ways to win games and not his job status. 

“My concern is putting a team on the field that’s going to win a football game,” Shurmur said, via Pro Football Talk. “It’s a one week concern getting ready to play the next opponent and put a winning performance on the field. That’s my concern.”

• Shurmur mentioned that RB Saquon Barkley got “banged up” during Sunday’s game: “[Barkley] got banged up a little bit [Sunday], so I don’t know. I’m sure that contributes. We’ll look at it as we go. He got banged around pretty good.” (ESPN)
• Ralph Vacchiano notes that Barkley got X-rays after the game.

Lions

Lions GM Bob Quinn issued the following statement (per Dave Birkett) regarding the decision to hold QB Matthew Stafford out of Sunday’s game against the Bears, due to back fractures. 

“Matthew, deactivated him this morning. Had the back injury last week, near the end of the Oakland game. Practiced on limited all week, listed him as questionable. Got to the stadium this morning, met with the doctors and wasn’t medically cleared to play today so he’s deactivated.”

• The Chicago Bears waived RB Mike Davis on Saturday to protect a 2020 compensatory pick. 
• Dave Birkett mentions that the Lions are worth keeping an eye on for Davis, given that they could use running back help and Detroit showed interest in him has a restricted free agent a few years ago.