NFC North Links: Packers, Vikings, Bears
The Lions have a lot going on as they prepare to face the Jets this Sunday, but the rest of the NFC North teams are not just waiting for their games. The Packers and Bears have a huge divisional matchup coming up, and the Vikings are ready to usher in a new era, with Teddy Bridgewater‘s first start against the Falcons.
Here are some links to some stories from NFC North teams:
- Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel spoke with Packers‘ safety Morgan Burnett for an in-depth look at the man behind the facemask.
- Dunn’s colleague at the Journal-Sentinel applauds Packers‘ general manager Ted Thompson‘s cap management, noting that his prudent spending has given the team a cushion to improve during the season.
- The Bears cut defensive end Julius Peppers and signed defensive end Lamarr Houston on the same day this offseason, but Houston is far from a replacement, writes Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Houston, along with Willie Young, have been part of turning a team that ranked 32nd against the run in 2013 into a league-average run stopping unit.
- Adam Jahns of the Sun-Times answers some frequently asked questions about the Bears–Packers matchup.
- John Mullin of CSNChicago.com has his own matchup preview, focusing on the health of the Bears‘ top receivers.
- Vikings‘ guard Vlad Ducasse is in line to start for the injured Brandon Fusco, and Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune chronicles the former Jet’s NFL journey.
- Vikings‘ linebacker Chad Greenway has been ruled out for this weekend’s matchup, and is one of the keys Matt Vensel of the Star-Tribune focuses on during his preview.
- Another injured Viking, tight end Kyle Rudolph, will force the team to ask for more from the backups at the position, writes Dane Mizutanii of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press.
- Matt Cassel has undergone surgery on his foot, and Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com took a look on Cassel’s place in the future plans of the Vikings.
Vikings Place Cassel, Fusco On IR
Quarterback Matt Cassel and guard Brandon Fusco both received new deals from the Vikings this offseason, with Cassel inking a two-year pact to avoid free agency while Fusco agreed to a four-year extension. However, just three weeks into the 2014 season, both players are done for the year. The team announced today in a press release that it has placed Cassel and Fusco on season-ending injured reserve.
Taking Cassel’s and Fusco’s spots on the roster are a pair of practice squad players, in tight end Chase Ford and offensive lineman Austin Wentworth. Their promotions opened up two new spots on the practice squad, which have been filled by quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson and tight end Ryan Otten.
Cassel, who suffered a broken foot in the Vikings’ Week 3 loss to the Saints, will be replaced under center by rookie Teddy Bridgewater, while Christian Ponder transitions from the league’s most notable No. 3 signal-caller to Bridgewater’s backup. Although Cassel is under contract for two years, it’s extremely difficult to imagine him returning to a starting role in Minnesota at any point, unless Bridgewater struggles mightily during his rookie year. With Ponder facing free agency in 2015, perhaps the club decides to bring Cassel back as its No. 2 option in 2015, but given his $4.15MM base salary, he may have played his last game in Minnesota.
The Vikings have yet to use their IR spot with the designation to return, so the fact that neither Cassel nor Fusco – who sustained a shoulder injury – received that designation seems to suggest the team doesn’t believe either player will be healthy enough to return this season.
Injury Updates: Sunday
The NFL is almost through another week of football, and the injuries are piling up yet again. An unfortunate reality of the league is that no team will leave healthy from week to week.
Zach Links and Luke Adams have already discussed some of the bigger names to go down. Matt Cassel‘s foot injury paved the way for Vikings‘ first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater‘s NFL debut. Dennis Pitta left the Ravens‘ win with a dislocated hip, and Chargers‘ tailback Danny Woodhead could miss the rest of the season with a high ankle sprain and fractured fibula.
Here are some other injury notes from around the NFL:
- In addition to Cassel, the Vikings‘ lost a number of starters to injury late in their loss to the Saints: linebacker Chad Greenway left the game with a rib injury, tight end Kyle Rudolph with a groin injury, guard Brandon Fusco with a pectoral injury, and Josh Robinson with a hamstring issue, writes Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com.
- Saints‘ center Jonathan Goodwin left the game with a left leg injury, writes Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com.
- Redskins‘ cornerback DeAngelo Hall is feared to have a torn achilles tendon, reports Mike Jones of the Washington Post. He will have an MRI tomorrow.
- Lions‘ linebacker Stephen Tulloch injured his left knee during the victory over the Packers, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Tulloch, who has never missed a game in his nine-year career, suffered the injury during a celebration of a sack on Aaron Rodgers.
- Rod Streater and Tyvon Branch both suffered injuries for the Raiders in their 16-9 loss to the Patriots, reports Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. Head coach Dennis Allen confirmed that Streater suffered a foot fracture, and Branch had a similar injury.
- The Cowboys beat the Rams today, but may have lost defensive tackle Henry Melton to a groin injury, writes Brandon George of DallasNews.com. Melton missed all of the preseason while recovering from a groin injury.
Vikings, Brandon Fusco Agree To Extension
WEDNESDAY, 9:54am: Fusco’s deal includes $24.25MM in new money, $6MM in guarantees, and has a maximum value of $27MM, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter).
SATURDAY, 1:15pm: The Vikings have agreed with guard Brandon Fusco on a five-year extension worth $25MM, reports Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter). The deal will include $6MM in guaranteed money.
Fusco was a sixth-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft out of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. He has started in 31 games over the last two seasons, and showed significant signs of improvement last year. According to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), Fusco ranked among the bottom 10 qualified guards in the NFL during the 2012 season, but was a top-10 option last season, posting a grade of +15.7.
As a sixth-rounder, Fusco didn’t have a fifth-year option on his rookie contract, so he would’ve been eligible for free agency in March if the Vikings hadn’t locked him up.
NFC North Notes: Vikings, Packers, Lions
After starting 35 games for the Vikings over the last three seasons, Christian Ponder heads into the 2014 preseason as the No. 3 quarterback on the team’s depth chart, behind Matt Cassel and Teddy Bridgewater. However, he’s trying not to let his precarious situation in Minnesota bother him — according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Ponder recognizes that he has to “be prepared” despite not getting as many reps this summer as Cassel and Bridgewater, and adds that he doesn’t expect to be traded before the regular season gets underway.
Here’s more from around the NFC North:
- Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities (Twitter link) has heard there’s been a little dialogue between the Vikings and Brandon Fusco‘s camp about a contract extension for the offensive lineman. However, according to Fusco himself, nothing is imminent at this point. Minnesota’s starting right guard is heading into the final year of his rookie deal.
- With swing tackle Don Barclay expected to be placed on injured reserve, Packers GM Ted Thompson doesn’t expect his club to be in the market for a veteran offensive lineman, says Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- As we heard last night, the Lions‘ waiver claim of former 49ers wideout Jonathan Baldwin has yet to be finalized, while the team evaluates his medical situation. According to Carlos Monarrez and Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Baldwin took his physical on Tuesday, but there are some concerns about his knee. “I’m not sure exactly the timetable on when we have to (make a decision),” head coach Jim Caldwell said. “(GM) Martin (Mayhew) and those guys stay on top of those kind of stuff, but we’re evaluating him right now.”
- One of the Lions‘ offseason coaching changes involved bringing in a new defensive coordinator, and as Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News writes, newcomer Teryl Austin likes what he has seen from the unit so far.