NFC Notes: Packers, Redskins, Vikings

Packers

Last year, Packers C Corey Linsley missed all of the team’s offseason workouts and the first eight games of the regular season due to a hamstring injury.

Linsley explained that he was rushing his return and ultimately cost himself in the end, which is something he doesn’t intend to do again this time around following ankle surgery.

“I just have to continue to follow the plan, whereas last year I maybe didn’t,” Linsley said, via ESPN.com. “I was trying to go ahead of the plan because I thought I was ahead of it, instead of just trusting the process that the trainers and the strength coaches had given me. I was trying to beat it, like the tough guy I am. I was trying to get ahead of it. And I ended up behind. Now it’s a matter of knowing I’ll be OK as long as I follow this plan.”

Redskins

Rich Tandler of CSN Mid-Atlantic takes a look at three Redskins’ players who are up and three who are down following offseason workouts.

• The three players on the rise, according to Tandler, are WR Josh Doctson, G Shawn Lauvao, and CB Josh Norman.
• Conversely, Tandler says that ILB Will Compton, OLB Trent Murphy, and RB Matt Jones are trending down for Washington.

Vikings

New Vikings RB Latavius Murray admitted that he’s behind a bit in the competition with rookie RB Dalvin Cook after undergoing ankle surgery this offseason.

“If I’m looking at it from my perspective, here I am, already behind in a sense, going into a new offense, new situation, but I’m injured, coming off an injury,” Murray said during an appearance on “Good Morning Football” Tuesday. “Dalvin’s already been through the [organized team activities], he’s already been through the offseason. So, he has that up on me. But also, looking at it as, hey, I’m the vet, I have time in this league, I’ve done some good things in this league. So I have a lot to bring to the table.

“You’re looking at it from his aspect, ‘Look this older vet is coming off this injury, it’s time for him to step aside. I want this, and I should be the guy.‘”

However, Murray stressed that this is “my time, this is my opportunity.”

“I’m looking at it from my perspective, like, look, this is my time, this is my opportunity,” Murray said. “This is what I want. When it comes Game 1, I need to be back there lining up.”