NFC Notes: Lions, Saints, Vikings

Lions

Lions LS Don Muhlbach said he still feels “pretty good” now that he’s close to completing his 17th year in the NFL and is confident that he can continue playing. 

“I’m probably a tad biased, but I think I’m doing pretty good,” Muhlbach said, via Justin Rogers of The Detroit News. “I feel good. That’s the thing, from talking to other guys that — when you start not feeling great and it affects things. But I feel (good). It took a little longer this year, not having the offseason. I think I was a little rusty when we started. But I found my groove once we got going here, and I still think I can play in this league.”

Muhlbach added that he is not concerned about the Lions rebuilding this offseason given he’s “done it before.” 

“I mean, I’ve done it before, so maybe I can help with it?” Muhlbach said. “I don’t know. I do feel like I want to get this thing going in the right direction before they get rid of me, so I don’t know. All I know right now is my body feels pretty good, and, just, see what happens the next two weeks.”

Muhlbach praised rookie LS Steve Wirtel, describing him as “way more athletic” than he is. 

“Steve’s very good,” Muhlbach said. “I mean, good snapper, very athletic — way more athletic than me.”

Saints

• Nick Underhill notes that Saints LB Kwon Alexander, who tore his Achilles on Friday, has an injury guarantee for 2021 that will net him $2 million if he remains on the 90-man roster as of April 1, 2021. 
• Underhill adds that Alexander will likely be on the roster at the point due to his injury status and notes that the team may be interested in restructuring his contract for the 2021 season.
• Underhill reports that Saints TE Josh Hill sustained a finger injury in Friday’s game and the team is still determining the severity.

Vikings

Vikings HC Mike Zimmer called this year’s team the “worst” defense he’s ever coached after lowing to the Saints 52-33 in Friday’s game. 

“Yeah, this is a bad defense,” Zimmer said, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN. “Worst one I’ve ever had. Really disappointed defensively,” Zimmer said. “You’ve gotta work really hard to give up 52.”

Zimmer added that the Saints “manhandled” their defensive line and linebackers, while their defensive backs struggled in coverage as well. 

“No, I don’t think being young has got anything to do with tackling,” Zimmer said. “They manhandled us up front pretty well with the front guys and linebackers, but we didn’t tackle. When we had chances, we didn’t cover very well today. Defensive backs came off the receivers. It was disappointing.”

Zimmer explained that their defense was “a little undermanned,” which helped New Orleans’ offense open up rushing lanes.  

“We’re a little undermanned, but they should play better than that. Really it wasn’t so much the six touchdowns, it’s more that they just mashed us up front. We couldn’t slow them down. It would be 8-yard gain, 7-yard gain. The first touchdown we fitted wrong with the linebackers, I believe. It was one of those kind of days.”

• Most notably, the team allowed Saints’ RB Alvin Kamara into the endzone a total of six times, but Zimmer said that despite his team being young, it had nothing to do with their performance: “I don’t think being young has anything to do with tackling…they manhandled us upfront pretty well.” (Cronin)
• Vikings’ LT Riley Reiff agreed to take a $5 million cut pay cut prior to the season, but will receive a $1 million bonus for playing 86% of the snaps, and is on pace to earn another $2 million total for 93.75% of the snaps. This would mean that Reiff has earned $2 million back out of the $5 million he lost. (Chris Tomasson)
• Reiff will also receive a $5 million roster bonus if he remains on the team in March, meaning that he will likely be moved, as the Vikings would be paying him $5 million along with his base salary of $6.65 million, netting him a grand total of $11.65 million. (Tomasson)