NFC Notes: Lions, Panthers, Vikings

Lions

• The Detroit Lions brought in free agent CB Ken Crawley for a tryout on Monday. (Aaron Wilson)
• Lions placed LB Jahlani Tavai on injured reserve. (NFLTR)

Panthers

The Panthers continued their 2019 meltdown on Sunday, dropping their seventh straight game by losing to the Colts 38-7. Since firing HC Ron Rivera, Carolina has embodied the phrase “the wheels came off” as the offense continues to be a disaster no matter who suits up at quarterback, the defense allowed its NFL-leading 29th rushing touchdown and special teams gave up two punt return touchdowns. Panthers TE Greg Olsen didn’t hold back discussing what’s gone wrong with the team this year. 

“Right now I’m not sure what our plan is. I think we want to win now, but we want to build for the future,” Olsen said via Alaina Getzenberg of the Charlotte Observer. “It’s just a really tough way to operate right now.”

“Players are underperforming, I think it’s right now a very collective failure, organizational failure,” Olsen continued. “Fans deserve better. A lot of guys in this locker room deserve better. Coaches that have been around here deserve better. It’s just been an overall failure, I think is the best way to put it.”

Panthers DT Vernon Butler was ejected from the game after getting tied up with Colts G Mark Glowinski and throwing a punch at TE Jack Doyle by mistake. Butler compounded the mistake by flipping off Colts fans on his way out of the arena but cooled off enough later to issue an apology, though it likely won’t change his future with the team in the last year of his deal. 

“It’s not me. It’s not my character,” Butler said via the team website’s Max Henson. “I want to apologize to this organization, to my teammates. I’m sorry. I take full responsibility for it. It won’t happen again. . . . I should keep my cool. I’m a better person than that.”

• Panthers interim HC Perry Fewell said the team will start third-round rookie QB Will Grier in Week 17. (Henson)
• Fewell mentioned Panthers CB Ross Cockrell played well and should remain in the starting lineup in Week 17 ahead of CB Donte Jackson. (Henson)
• Asked about potentially releasing Butley, Fewell told reporters Monday, “all options are on the table.” (David Newton)
• Carolina is unlikely to release Butler because he could net a compensatory pick from signing elsewhere this offseason, but he could be benched in Week 17 against the Saints. (Joseph Person)

Vikings

• Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press reports that Vikings WR Davion Davis was arrested in October for suspicion of driving under the influence.
• Police reportedly pulled Davis over on Oct. 26 after clocking him for driving going 81 mph in a 55 mph zone. Davis showed signs of alcohol impairment and later produced an alcohol concentration of .13 percent, which is 0.05 above the legal limit.
• Davis pleaded not guilty to three misdemeanor charges and has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for Jan. 17.
• Jeremy Fowler reports that Viking RB Mike Boone garnered trade interest before this year’s deadline.