The Bears are still waiting on a clearer read on Rome Odunze, but the early word is encouraging. Head coach Ben Johnson said the wideout is “more day-to-day” and will not practice Tuesday, though Chicago remains hopeful he’ll be ready for Sunday.
Johnson also settled one key question up front, officially naming Braxton Jones the team’s starting left tackle. That gives the Bears some clarity on the blind side as they move deeper into camp.
As for Ozzy Trapilo, Johnson didn’t offer a timetable for when the tackle will be ready to help on the field. Still, he made it clear the work Trapilo is putting in now matters.
“I can’t say it’s in the near future. I know he’s working his tail off.
It’s been beyond impressive for him to be where he is today. The fact that he’s out there with those guys and he’s strong, he’s flexible, it’s a credit to him.
It’s a credit to guys in the weight room who have been training him. I think we’re headed in the right direction there.”
In Detroit, the offensive setup around Jared Goff is still taking shape, but Dan Campbell likes what he’s seeing between the quarterback and new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. After Ben Johnson departed for Chicago and John Morton later gave way to Campbell on play-calling, the Lions brought in Petzing this season, and Campbell said the two are already finding a rhythm.
“I think just their ability to work with each other and I feel like pull the best out of each other, if you will,” Campbell said during a press conference, via Pro Football Talk. “I think Drew brings clarity in some areas, which is good and that’s always going to help Goff.
But, I think at the same time, Goff has these things that he sees, that he likes, that we’re capable of doing with what we have. And he knows he can do it, to where Drew is open to those and we’ve used some of those.
I think that’s a good thing, man, because I think that’s how you don’t stay stale, man. You continue to grow and with where our quarterback is, playing at a high level to be able to continue to test him and push him but also allow input and allow him to do things that even though it may be a little new, a new wrinkle that he feels comfortable trying, it’s a good thing.
And then in regard to something Drew wants, he may not love it, but he’s willing to go and give it a go. I think that expands his own horizon.
I just think it’s a good give and take, and I think those guys to this point have worked really well together.”
In Minnesota, Harrison Smith’s contract situation includes a wrinkle worth watching. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, part of Smith’s $12.25 million deal is tied to per-game active roster bonuses.
Garafolo added that Smith may end up playing a little less than the 85 percent of snaps he logged last season, but he also said the veteran is in excellent shape and could be active for the season opener.
In Other News...
Vikings Made Their Week 1 QB Call And Fans Will Debate It
The Vikings have settled their Week 1 quarterback situation, and it comes with the kind of name recognition that guarantees an argument around the fan base. Kyler Murray, the former Cardinals starter, has won the job over rookie J.J. McCarthy, giving Minnesota an experienced hand to open the season while leaving the first-round pick to keep developing in the background.
For a team that has spent plenty of time balancing short-term expectations with long-term quarterback planning, this is a meaningful early call. Murray brings a track record, McCarthy brings upside, and the debate from here is less about whether the Vikings made a choice than whether it will look like the right one when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Face A Tough J.J. McCarthy Decision No One Expected
The Vikings quarterback picture has already taken on an unexpected layer of business as much as football. According to reports, Minnesota would want any draft pick coming back in a potential J.J. McCarthy trade to include playing-time conditions, a sign the team is trying to protect the value of the return while McCarthys status keeps shifting. He has already lost the starting job to Kyler Murray and is now working through an ankle injury, which has only added to the speculation around what comes next.
Kevin OConnell has made it clear he still wants to keep working with McCarthy, but there are also rumors that the organization has not been aligned on the former first-round quarterbacks long-term future. With differing levels of investment in McCarthy between OConnell and former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the situation feels less like a simple depth-chart issue and more like one of the more complicated decisions facing the Vikings as they map out the next phase at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Rookies Could Shape Week 1 In One Crucial Way
The Vikings head into their Week 1 matchup with Green Bay carrying a young roster that includes 10 rookies on the final 53-man group, and that kind of depth can matter fast when the season opens. Among the first-year players drawing attention, Domonique Orange, Jake Golday and Chuck Demmings stood out in training camp and the preseason, giving Minnesota some intriguing options as it sorts out how to handle the first real test of the year.
How those rookies are used remains the part worth watching. The Vikings have some promising candidates for early roles, but the staff has not yet settled on specific game-time responsibilities, which leaves a little mystery heading into Sunday. For a team trying to get through a division opener against Green Bay with answers rather than questions, the rookie class could end up shaping the first impression in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]