NFL Notes: Bears, Jets & Lions

Bears

Bears backup QB Matt Barkley mentioned that he surprised with how far along he is in regards to picking up the team’s offense.

“It’s only been [a short period of time] since I’ve been here, but I’m actually kind of surprised of how far I am in the offense,” Barkley said, via ESPN.com. “Not because of my intelligence, but because of the way the system is, and how quarterback-friendly it is. There is a lot going on, no doubt, but I think because of my history with the Cardinals and that system we ran, there are a lot of similar concepts, even to what I ran in Philadelphia.”

While Barkley is optimistic about how he would play if he was forced into game-action, Bears OC Dowell Loggains doesn’t see it the same way.

“To say that he’s ready to go digest the entire game plan and play well and execute it would be an overstatement at this point,” Loggains said.

Jets

• Despite the fact that the Jets could use a pass-catching tight end, ESPN’s Rich Cimini can’t see the Jets taking a chance on former Buccaneers TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who was waived Friday after being arrested for a DUI.
• Cimini mentions that the Jets have been somewhat conservative with bringing in players with checkered pasts.
• On top of that, Cimini points out that the Jets really don’t utilize the tight end all that much in their passing attack.

Lions

• Michael Rothstein of ESPN writes that unless the Lions are able to somehow get LSU RB Leonard Fournette, it’s unlikely that they’ll be looking for a running back in round one next year.
• Instead, Rothstein mentions that tomorrow’s game will be a huge moment for Theo Riddick to show what he can do as the team’s No. 1 running back.
• According to Rothstein, re-signing LB Josh Bynes at some point could be an option, depending on how long his injury settlement is for and whether another team tries to sign him.
• Rothstein considers RB Ameer Abdullah and LB Jon Bostic to be the two candidates to be brought back from injured reserve as of now.