Around the NFL: Cousins Feeling Salty, Wentz’s Recovery, Allen and Bradford as Backups, More

Jun 14, 2018

While the Bears are in the midst of a stretch of down time until training camp opens up in July, let’s tie up some odds and ends from around the league.

The Minnesota Vikings’ defense gave Mitch Trubisky fits during his rookie season. Heck, they were trouble for everyone … well, except the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. So it should come as no surprise that the group is causing problems for Kirk Cousins, who threw two interceptions in three red zone practice plays. Cousins even told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he felt “pretty salty” after that performance. My take on Cousins’ struggles: Goooooooood. It almost makes me want to see what a Bears defense that returned its entire starting secondary and all but one starter will do to him this coming season.

Elsewhere in Vikings Country:

https://twitter.com/Mr_Henson51/status/1007334616473227264

Moving around the NFC North, Marvin Jones Jr. finds himself downplaying the idea that new head coach Matt Patricia could lose his players because he makes them run at practice as punishment. “It’s football. We run. You know what I’m saying? Nobody is complaining,” Jones told the Good Morning Football crew. “Everybody is just going out here, working hard, and we’re having fun doing it. So, whoever’s grandma wrote that story … I don’t know.” It’s wonderful to see that Lions camp is as harmonious as it ever was!

I find myself trying to balance my amused that Terrell Suggs is entering his age 36 season (seriously, I’m getting old) and is still playing at a high level despite his age. Suggs enters his 16th season in what his head coach believes is a career that will end with enshrinement in Canton. “I think he’s on a mission and I think he’s headed for the Hall of Fame,” Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said, via Michael David Smith at Pro Football Talk. “I want to see that statement made this year, next year and for as long as he plays.” Suggs has seven double-digit sack seasons (including one in 2017 during his age 35 season) and 125.5 over the course of his career. He’ll get a good look at his future in August when his Ravens play the Bears in the Hall of Fame Game.

Soon enough, Suggs will be able to add Baker Mayfield to the list of quarterbacks he has brought down during his illustrious career. So while Tyrod Taylor starts the season as the Browns’ starter, Mayfield – the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner and the 2018 NFL Draft’s first overall selection – will have to wait his turn. And according to new OC Todd Haley, there is work to be done. “He has a long way to go,” Haley said of Bradford, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “I’d say it’s clear that Tyrod is the leader of this team. That is a big component of that position, also.” Haley would go on to say his quarterbacks room was “one of the best, if not the best” he’s had. That’s big praise considering he’s worked with Kurt Warner and Ben Roethlisberger in his past.

Josh Allen was the third quarterback taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. And even though the Bills toyed around with him in a first-string role during some practice reps during the offseason training program and minicamp, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW reports Allen will open training camp as the third-string quarterback:

#Bills HC Sean McDermott reiterated that the quarterback rotation will mainly be the same when they open up training camp: Peterman and McCarron alternating with the first unit and Josh Allen mainly with the third-team offense.
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) June 14, 2018

Nick Foles was the Super Bowl winning quarterback for Philadelphia, he will eventually turn it back over to Carson Wentz. As expected, Wentz isn’t quite ready to kick it into full gear as he recovers from a torn ACL, but he is working toward a full return. Of course, he’ll need to be cleared for contact before that really gets going. “I think at the end of the day, I just need to be cleared for contact,” Wentz said, via Philly.com’s Zach Berman. “Like you see out here, I’m doing quite a bit. … To finally be cleared of that contact issue is really the last hurdle, and I feel I’ll be ready whenever that is.”

One of the top prospects from the 2018 NFL Draft is already going under the knife. Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport suffered a thumb injury during the team’s minicamp and it will require ligament surgery. He’ll spend three weeks in a cast and need another few weeks after that until he is fully recovered. It’s more of a minor injury than a serious setback, but New Orleans would probably prefer not to deal with injury issues with a player with Davenport’s combination of size, speed, athleticism, and positional value.

Perhaps this is the start of NFL front offices valuing guards a little more highly than they did in the past:

Cowboys and Pro-Bowl G Zack Martin finally agreed today to 6-year, $84 million extension that includes $40 million guaranteed, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 13, 2018

written by

Luis C. Medina

Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

more bears news

Chicago Bears

NFL Schedule Notes, When Should Bears Debut? Goff, Winfield, Parks, and Other Bears Bullets

Coming home to a wonky wifi wasn't on my to-do list. But at least I'm home in one piece. Anyway, apologies if this set of BN Bears Bullets is brief because I can't spend all day on mobile hotspot. The...

Luis C. Medina

May 14, 2024

Chicago Bears

Bears Rookie Minicamp Takeaways: Caleb Williams and the Best of the Rest

I've said it, and I'll continue to say it: this chapter of Chicago Bears football feels different. Perhaps it's because the last time we did this, we were in a pandemic, and when the Bears jumped up to No. 11...

Patrick K. Flowers

May 13, 2024

Chicago Bears

Jared Goff Becomes the Highest-Paid Lion Ever!

The Detroit Lions have been busy in recent weeks securing their core after a run to the NFC title game last season. Jared Goff became the latest player to get a new deal in Detroit, and he became the highest-paid...

Patrick K. Flowers

May 13, 2024

Chicago Bears

Antoine Winfield Jr Signs Record-Breaking Extension

The Buccaneers have made Antoine Winfield Jr the highest-paid defensive back in the history of the NFL. On Monday afternoon, Winfield Jr and Tampa Bay agreed to a four-year, $84.1 million deal. It also guarantees the Bucs' star $45 million....

Matt Rooney

May 13, 2024

Chicago Bears

Bears Sign 6 Players After Rookie Minicamp Weekend Tryouts

The Chicago Bears offseason roster churn continues. In addition to their five-player draft class headlined by Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze (plus nine more players who were signed as undrafted free agents), the Bears have signed six free agents who...

Luis C. Medina

May 13, 2024

Chicago Bears

They’re No. 1: Bears Wide Receivers Room Ranks as NFL’s Best

One of my biggest frustrations with the Ryan Pace regime was how the former Chicago Bears general manager didn't invest in wide receiver upgrades the way you'd expect a team building around a young quarterback should. Meanwhile, his replacement, Ryan...

Luis C. Medina

May 13, 2024

Chicago Bears

The Cost of Being a Football Fan (And Other Bears Bullets)

In yet another reminder that nothing in life is free, the folks at Awful Announcing put the total cost to access NFL games this season projects to be $855.86. With 272 games on the NFL schedule, that comes out to...

Luis C. Medina

May 13, 2024

Chicago Bears

Rome Odunze Missed Saturday’s Bears Rookie Minicamp Practice

I was rounding up this morning's set of Bears Bullets when I saw this note from the Chicago Tribune's Dan Wiederer on rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze sitting out Saturday's practice with hamstring tightness and I knew I had to...

Luis C. Medina

May 12, 2024

Chicago Bears

A New Tight End, Day 2 Camp Pics and Vids, Edge Market Developing, and Other Bears Bullets

It's Mother's Day today. And while my mother passed away in 2017, I try to use this day to remember and honor her memory. Do something nice for the moms in your life today. You only get one. Chicago Bears...

Luis C. Medina

May 12, 2024

Chicago Bears

Caleb to Rome, First Day Notes, Big LSU Bet Is Off, and Other Bears Bullets

I'm off to Springfield to play the role of Uncle Lu this weekend, so we'll have an abridged version of Bears Bullets today. Caleb Williams survived his first practice as Chicago Bears QB1. And all was right with the football...

Luis C. Medina

May 11, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Did You Ever Wonder What Happened to Frank Schwindel?

I've gotten back into baseball cards, which, among other things, sends me down a lot of Memory Lanes. You pull a particular card, you think about that player, and you have various memories. It's part of the fun. The other...

Brett Taylor

May 14, 2024

Chicago Blackhawks

Bruins Get Bad Brad Marchand Update Ahead Of Game 5

Bad news for the Boston Bruins this morning. Trailing 3-1 in their second-round series with the Florida Panthers, it was revealed that captain Brad Marchand will again not be available for tonight's win-or-go-home matchup in South Florida. https://twitter.com/FlutoShinzawa/status/1790401949998706932 Brad Marchand...

Matt Rooney

May 14, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Roster Moves: Lovelady DFA’d, Miller Acquired, Slaughter Sent Out

The Tyson Miller trade is now official, with the Chicago Cubs sending minor league utility man Jake Slaughter to the Seattle Mariners for Miller, who figures to be mostly a match-up righty/middle reliever in the bullpen. More on the trade...

Brett Taylor

May 14, 2024

Chicago Blackhawks

Oilers Reportedly Making A Big Change Prior To Game 4

Heading into the Oilers and Canucks second-round series, Vancouver was thought to be the team with the bigger concern in between the pipes. Vezina Trophy finalist Thatcher Demko was ruled out for at least the first four games of the...

Matt Rooney

May 14, 2024

Chicago Bulls

Playing Rookies More, 2025 Draft Pick Concerns, Lonzo’s New Podcast, and Other Bulls Bullets

With the 2024 NBA Draft Combine off to a hot start in their own backyard, I hope the Chicago Bulls have learned from their many past mistakes. More on the importance of these next few days ... https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2024/05/14/draft-combine-bulls-work-5/ For a...

Elias Schuster

May 14, 2024

Chicago Bears

NFL Schedule Notes, When Should Bears Debut? Goff, Winfield, Parks, and Other Bears Bullets

Luis C. Medina

May 14, 2024

Chicago Cubs

The Luckiest Dude at the Ballpark

I have been to more Cubs and MLB games than I could realistically remember. And not ONCE — not even once — have I caught a ball. No homers, no foul balls, no outfielders chucking it to me. Nothing. And...

Michael Cerami

May 14, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Shotamania, Counsell Boot, Rotation, Wesneski, Happ, and Other Cubs Bullets

I hope your Tuesday is treating you well. So far so good on my end ... Shota Imanaga dealt with more traffic last night than he has thus far in his debut MLB season, but hey, that's a ridiculous Braves...

Brett Taylor

May 14, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Injury Notes: Morel, Almonte, Alzolay, Smyly, Wicks

We don't yet know if there's an "injury" here, but it's a pretty scary possibility, so I'm leading with it. If you didn't catch the moment in last night's game, Christopher Morel fouled a ball off his toe in the...

Brett Taylor

May 14, 2024

Chicago Cubs

A Reliever Trade! Chicago Cubs Acquiring Tyson Miller from the Mariners

The Chicago Cubs are acquiring righty reliever Tyson Miller from the Seattle Mariners for minor league utility man Jake Slaughter, per Jeff Passan. The Cubs did it! An early-May bullpen trade! It can be done! ... ok, there are some...

Brett Taylor

May 14, 2024

Around the NFL: Cousins Feeling Salty, Wentz’s Recovery, Allen and Bradford as Backups, More

Read More

more bears news

Latest News

more bears news

Most Popular

Most Popular

Latest News

Most Popular

Most Popular