Preseason notes
Chicago Bears
Managing 4.0 yards per play and 9.7 points per game — 31st and 32nd, respectively, in the NFL — new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains must find answers quickly.
The offense is missing threetime Pro Bowl RG Kyle Long (shoulder) and TE Zach Miller (concussion). Miller, injured Aug. 1, has resumed practicing, donning a non-contact jersey. Long hasn’t practiced since the second preseason game.
Perhaps their healthy returns can help a makeshift offensive line that has struggled mightily to recognize blitzes and generate a consistent surge. But after a sluggish performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in which the first-team offense managed 18 yards and two first downs in a half, with QB Jay Cutler and WRs Alshon Jeffery and Kevin
White all culpable, poor execution also is to blame.
Rookie watch: DE Jonathan Bullard missed a few practices last week because of family issues, but the Bears are pleased with his growth. “He’s a tough-minded player,” coach John Fox said. … CB Deiondre’ Hall had his first interception but otherwise struggled in extended playing time last week, surrendering a 58-yard bomb, among several downfield throws. … Fourth-round LB Nick
Kwiatkoski (hamstring) hasn’t appeared in the preseason.
Noteworthy: QB Connor Shaw, who had been moving up the depth chart, suffered a seasonending broken leg. … K Robbie
Gould went unchallenged this offseason for his job but has sputtered lately, missing a 48-yard field goal try. The Bears desperately need Gould to be steady after he struggled late last season.
Detroit Lions
The Lions have found tough times in the red zone without retired WR Calvin Johnson.
The first-team offense has failed to reach the end zone this preseason, and the Lions are a combined 1-for-9 inside the 20. That’s a far cry from a unit that led the NFL in red-zone efficiency in 2015 and finished fifth or better in six of the past eight seasons.
Penalties marred Detroit’s red-zone offense against the Baltimore Ravens. Holding by rookie TE Cole Wick negated one touchdown, and penalties by RT
Riley Reiff and RG Larry Warford caused the unit to move backward and rely on a booming 60-yard field goal from K Matt Prater on another series.
Rookie watch: LT Taylor Decker opened nice holes in Detroit’s improved rushing performance. … A fragile tight end situation helps his roster push, but Wick, undrafted out of Incarnate Word, had his second poor outing in a row after impressing throughout camp. … Undrafted WR Jace Billingsley was held without a catch for the first time and appears poised for the practice squad. Noteworthy: Defensive tackle
Khyri Thornton might have found his way off the roster bubble by backing up his strong recent practices with a disruptive performance vs. Baltimore. That might not bode well for holdovers
Gabe Wright and Caraun Reid. … The biggest silver lining from an ugly preseason loss was undoubtedly the debuts of LB DeAndre
Levy and RB Ameer Abdullah. Making his first game appearance in more than 10 months, Levy appeared fresh, while Abdullah showed juice to the perimeter and emerged unscathed after a few hits. ... WR Jeremy Kerley was sent to the San Francisco 49ers for 2014 third-round OL Bran
don Thomas, whose size and versatility should make him one of Detroit’s top utility linemen.
Green Bay Packers
After being dragged down by his dreadlocks for the first time since high school Friday against the San Francisco 49ers, RB Ed
die Lacy told reporters he was contemplating a haircut.
After watching their feature back terrorize opponents this preseason, on the heels of a disappointing 2015 season in which he played overweight, the Packers hope that’s his only change.
“That’s the steps you’ve seen from him in his growth,” QB Aar
on Rodgers said. “It’s more than just running. We know he’s a tough guy, smart and finishes runs. He’s a big body and tough to tackle. But he’s been doing a good job in pass protection and his reads.”
With a robust 5.7 yards per carry, Lacy, in a contract year, appears ready to deliver for Green Bay’s rejuvenated offense.
Rookie watch: Second-round OLB Kyler Fackrell last week appeared active, relentless and consistently in the backfield in easily his best showing. … The news is less positive for firstround NT Kenny Clark, who didn’t make the trip because of a back injury. … Undrafted WR
Geronimo Allison keeps impressing, most recently on a downfield jump ball, yet another big play for the receiver thought to lack big-play ability. … The reviews on undrafted S Kentrell
Brice are outstanding. Athletic and physical, he looks like a differ- ence-maker on special teams.
Noteworthy: Rodgers, whom one daily observer said had been otherworldly in practice, looked sharp in his two preseason drives, particularly targeting Randall
Cobb and Jared Cook, whose offensive role continues to create a buzz. … Hamstring injuries for core special-teams players Chris
Banjo and Jayrone Elliott are ill-timed with an undrafted rookie class continuing to shine.
Minnesota Vikings
When the Vikings opened U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, they couldn’t unveil their new offensive line, as LT Matt Kalil was held out with a leg injury. Fans also didn’t see RB Adrian
Peterson, who dressed but will extend his streak to five years without a preseason carry.
Yet that sound heard from Minnesota — even over the deafening buzz of fans celebrating their new digs — was a sigh of relief. That’s because QB Teddy
Bridgewater, after sitting out the second preseason game and not throwing in two subsequent practices because of shoulder soreness, looked as good as ever.
Bridgewater threw several intermediate darts that should eliminate concerns about his throwing arm. He showed poise, speed as a scrambler and impressive precision and decision-making. He appears as if he’s already in midseason stride.
Rookie watch: Attacking the ball in the air is Laquon Tread
well’s specialty. His two-point conversion on a jump ball fade vs. the San Diego Chargers was a good sign for a guy who had been struggling. … Coach Mike Zimmer likes the progress of CB
Mackensie Alexander. “He’s very, very quick, and he wants to challenge receivers. Those are things I’ve seen a lot these last 10 days or something. I think his technique is getting better.” Noteworthy: Jarius Wright,
the No. 3 wideout the past three seasons, has played sparingly, potentially an ominous sign for his job security at an improved position. … Safety Michael Griffin, in a battle with Andrew
Sendejo for a starting job, missed an open-field tackle on a touchdown run by Melvin Gordon.