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It was a bit of a comedown after the intensity of the NFL draft, but we did have a few minor roster moves Monday in the NFC North.

According to ESPN's John Clayton, Detroit released four players: receiver Michael Ray Garvin, running back Cedric Peerman, cornerback DeAngelo Smith and defensive tackle Terrance Taylor.

Meanwhile, in Green Bay, the Packers re-signed safety Charlie Peprah and released tight end Devin Frischknecht. Jason Wilde has more at ESPNMilwaukee.com.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Green Bay linebacker Jeremy Thompson on his retirement due to a neck injury: "I'm a newlywed. I just have to try to move on. Football was my first love, but I have to move on." Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more.
• Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune: "If the Bears are going to add some players in the secondary free agent market, it's going to take some time to play out and they'll be focusing on the bargain bin."
• Bears draft pick Corey Wooten proposed to his girlfriend, DePaul basketball player Felicia Chester, on Friday night. Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times has the story.
• The Bears hadn't contacted the agent for free-agent guard Alan Faneca as of Monday night, according to Michael Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News on the Lions' possibly cooling pursuit of free-agent cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones: "But it seems the additions of [Amari] Spievey, and free-agent acquisitions Chris Houston, Jonathan Wade and Dante Wesley, put the Lions in a situation where acquiring Jones could be more of a luxury than a necessity."
• Lions coach Jim Schwartz is still looking for more defensive players, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press speaks with local hero Nate Triplett, the Minnesota linebacker drafted by the Vikings.
• Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune lists the numbers chosen by the Vikings' draft class.

Some sad news out of Green Bay: Linebacker Jeremy Thompson will retire because of a neck injury he suffered during practice in December.

A fourth-round draft pick in 2008, Thompson made the conversion from defensive end when the Packers switched to a 3-4 defense. Injuries derailed his season in 2009, but he probably would have been in the mix for the outside linebacker position the Packers have yet to fill this offseason opposite Clay Matthews.

As it stands, Brady Poppinga and Brad Jones are set to compete for the job. The Packers have hinted at acquiring additional depth, and on Monday, New England released veteran Adalius Thomas.

Early reports have suggested Thomas could be headed toward the New York Jets. It would be a surprise if he signed with the Packers.

I’m in total, complete agreement with every word in this measured column from Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler’s excessive complaining toward officials is an illustration, if not a cause, of the progress he still needs to make to become an elite NFL quarterback.

“[F]or Cutler to be the kind of quarterback Tom Brady is,” writes Pompei, “he will need to show less emotion and more focus on the field.”

The complaining has been going on for much of the season, but it reached new levels in Sunday’s 17-9 victory over St. Louis. Cutler challenged Pompei on the issue during a Wednesday news conference, asking why he thought it was a problem.

Anything that results in a penalty or a fine is a problem, Pompei responded. Totally accurate and completely fair. If Cutler isn’t worried about showing respect for officials out of a general sense of humanity, he should realize that he risks a 15-yard penalty whenever it happens. It should be obvious why that is a problem for the team.

The book is out on Cutler, and officials will be watching him more closely than other players. It’s not necessarily the cause of the Bears’ problems this season, but it’s a reaction that should be curbed.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears linebacker Jamar Williams, who was credited with 20 tackles Sunday against the Rams, is hoping for more playing time even when starter Lance Briggs returns. ESPN Chicago’s Jeff Dickerson has more.
• Minnesota’s run of (mostly) good health came to a shocking end Sunday night in Arizona, write Judd Zulgad and Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.
• Erin Henderson, the younger brother of Vikings middle linebacker E.J. Henderson, said he is confident his brother will resume his career after recovering from a fractured femur. Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has more.
• Green Bay linebacker Jeremy Thompson’s body “went numb” during a practice collision last Friday, writes Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee.
• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel checks in with Packers receiver Greg Jennings, who has five drops this season.
• It appears that Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson hit it big when he traded up to draft linebacker Clay Matthews, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• It appears that Detroit linebacker Ernie Sims (hamstring) is ready to return, writes Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News.
• Lions coach Jim Schwartz broke from protocol and announced his starting quarterback this week because “the potential benefits to announcing it outweigh the benefits of withholding it.” Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com has more.

Just a reminder here that I’ll post a wrap-up of Sunday’s three NFC North games here in a timely fashion. But the real action will come Monday night, when I take in Green Bay’s key matchup against Baltimore.

We’re expecting snow showers and a high of 28 degrees Monday in Green Bay. I’m packing my parka now.

Let’s take a quick Sunday morning spin around the division:

• Green Bay linebacker Jeremy Thompson (neck sprain) was released from the hospital Saturday and should make a full recovery, according to Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee.
• Packers coach Mike McCarthy: “If we stay healthy and keep improving, I feel great about where we are.” Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has more as Monday night’s game approaches.
• McCarthy’s backfield is ready to carry the load Monday night if weather conditions require it, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: “Ray Edwards is having a terrific season at left defensive end for the Vikings. But with everything else going on, few people are talking about it. That includes Edwards.”
• Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune compares the Vikings’ 1998 team to the current edition.
• Safety might be Chicago’s biggest need, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Bears quarterback Jay Cutler wants to see more of receiver Devin Aromashodu on the field, writes Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Cincinnati’s 13-point margin in the pregame line for Sunday’s game against Detroit might be low, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• The Lions have lost 17 consecutive road games, notes John Niyo of the Detroit News.

Following up on the Friday injury report, here’s the latest on Green Bay linebacker Jeremy Thompson.

The Packers released a statement Friday evening reporting Thompson sprained his neck during practice but never lost consciousness and was never paralyzed. He was transported to St. Vincent Hospital and will spend Friday night at Bellin Hospital for “rest and further evaluation," according to the statement.

We’ll keep you updated if there is further news to report.

Getting inside the Friday injury report:

Chicago Bears: Offensive lineman Orlando Pace (groin) and linebacker Lance Briggs (knee) are listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against St. Louis. Neither are expected to play.

Detroit Lions: Receiver Eric Fowler (knee) and safety Kalvin Pearson (hamstring) won’t play Sunday against Cincinnati. … Safety Louis Delmas (ankle), guard Daniel Loper (back), linebacker Ernie Sims (hamstring) and defensive end Dewayne White (toe) are all listed as questionable. Loper isn’t expected to play. Delmas and Sims both have a good chance.

Green Bay Packers: There was a frightening situation at the end of practice Friday when linebacker Jeremy Thompson suffered what coach Mike McCarthy termed a “neck stinger.” Thompson remained on the ground and eventually was taken to a hospital. Teammates told reporters that Thompson had movement in his hands and feet. Here is coverage from the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and ESPN Milwaukee. … Rookie offensive lineman T.J. Lang suffered a concussion in Thursday’s practice and did not participate Friday. That leaves the Packers hoping that starter Chad Clifton (hamstring) will recover in time to start Monday night against Baltimore. Green Bay will release status designations on Saturday.

Minnesota Vikings: I’ve given up trying to guess when cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot) will return. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier acknowledged that Winfield had a setback last week. Although he again made it through a full week of practice, I’ll believe Winfield is returning when I see him on the field. … Right guard Anthony Herrera practiced for the first time since suffering a concussion two weeks ago, but his availability for Sunday night’s game at Arizona is questionable at best. The remainder of the Vikings’ questionable players -- running back Chester Taylor (ribs) and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (ribs) -- are expected to play.

We’ll soon be emerging from what I consider the dog days of the NFL season. The novelty of regular-season games has long worn off, but we seem a little too far from the playoff chase to start making January plans. Thanks for sticking with us during this difficult time.

As always, you can vent, complain, complement and question anything and everything through the mailbag, Facebook or Twitter.

Let’s touch on a few issues in this weekend’s mailbag:

Jon of Thunder Bay, Ontario, writes: Do the Packers get any kind of compensation for having Brian Brohm signed off of their practice squad?

Kevin Seifert: Nope, they sure don’t. That’s the risk of carrying any player on the practice squad, and it should spell out the ambivalent feeling the Packers had about Brohm 18 months after making him the No. 56 overall pick of the 2008 draft.

In fact, Brohm’s departure offers us an avenue to perform an early evaluation of the Packers’ 2008 draft, one in which they traded out of the first round in order to amass three picks in the second round. Suffice it to say, the Packers haven’t gotten much immediate help from this group. Let’s take a look:

Round 2a: Receiver Jordy Nelson
Comment: As a reserve, 44 catches in 22 games

Round 2b: Quarterback Brian Brohm
Comment: Reached bust status in less than two years

Round 2c: Cornerback Pat Lee
Comment: Injuries have limited him to two tackles in five games

Round 3: Tight end Jermichael Finley
Comment: High upside derailed by 2009 knee injury

Round 4a: Linebacker Jeremy Thompson
Comment: Hasn’t found a position and buried on depth chart

Round 4b: Guard Josh Sitton
Comment: Starting at right guard

Round 5: Tackle Breno Giacomini
Comment: Backup has gotten no turn in revolving door

Round 7a: Quarterback Matt Flynn
Comment: No. 2 status by default thanks to Brohm

Round 7b: Receiver Brett Swain
Comment: Strong on special teams but lost for season (knee)

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Keith of Detroit writes: Around here, Calvin Johnson is starting to come under heavy scrutiny. He is consistently dropping passes during the games and is starting to have the look of someone that has been "Lionized." (To be Lionized means you become a soul-less football zombie, you are strictly in survival mode. This occurs to various players and coaches because of the infectious losing and hopeless atmosphere. Other prime examples include Rod Marinelli, Roy Williams, Bobby Ross, Darryl Rogers, James Hall.)

Kevin Seifert: Interesting way of putting it, Keith. I like it. I know it feels like Johnson is “consistently” dropping passes, but in reality we’ve got him with three drops via ESPN Stats & Information. Sometimes I wonder if some of the superior catches and plays he made last season has raised expectations for what should be his baseline play this season.

Also working against Johnson in this regard is his low-key demeanor. I’ve interviewed him a couple of times and found him to be friendly but pretty quiet. He’s not expressive and doesn’t always have much to say.

Does that mean he’s been “Lionized?” I’m not willing to go there yet. Johnson also has been dealing with a knee injury for much of the season. But as we discussed earlier this season, I think being “Lionized” is a real and dangerous condition, one that poses perhaps the biggest challenge that new coach Jim Schwartz will face.

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Angry Tom writes: Just so you are aware of it, you can list Jay Cutler is FALLING OFF THE PLANET for all I care. Here is a clue that you are missing. HE IS THE BEARS QB AND WILL BE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS. I could care less if he throws FIFTY INT's it is not going to change it. If you want to actually CONTRIBUTE to the discussion why not talk about the lack of help he has from the offensive coaching and the O-line. Here, I think this would be interesting to know. How many times have each of the starting QB's been Hit, Hurried, and Sacked. SHOCKER. I bet that OLD MAN 4 is at the bottom - BY FAR.

Kevin Seifert: Glad to hear from you, AT. It’s been a while. Unfortunately, quarterback hits and hurries aren’t officially tracked and therefore aren’t fair to compare between teams. (Each team’s defensive coaches keep their own statistics in those categories, using their own criteria.) But in terms of sacks, it’s just a fact that Cutler and Favre have taken an equal amount.

Here’s your NFC North starter totals:

Aaron Rodgers: 41
Jay Cutler: 19
Brett Favre: 19
Matthew Stafford: 17 (in seven games)

I don’t doubt that Cutler has faced some jailbreak situations, but I can’t put pass protection high on the list of explanations for his 17 interceptions this season. In fact, I would say the offensive line is more to blame for not giving Cutler a good run-game option than it is for putting him in pressure passing situations.

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Craig of Oconomowoc, Wis., writes: Do you think it possible that the Packers and Lions could pull an inter-division trade involving Ernie Sims and Aaron Kampman. Sims is getting outplayed by DeAndre Levy in DET and Kampman isn't the right fit for GB's 3-4 scheme. It could fill a need for both teams. Am I crazy thinking this could actually benefit both teams?

Kevin Seifert: First, I think that should be “intra-division,” but I’m not the best grammarian. Anyone?

Secondly, Kampman would probably fit in better in a 4-3 scheme, which Detroit runs. (Although coach Jim Schwartz’s emphasis on heavier players might make his scheme less than ideal for Kampman.) Would Sims excel as a 3-4 linebacker? I’m not sure.

Regardless, it’s highly unlikely this trade would ever happen. Most division teams measure their own status against that of their rivals. If the Packers make a trade that helps the Lions get better, or vice versa, it’s probably going to be a net loss. That’s why you rarely, if ever, see intra-division trades.

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Jeremy of Grand Forks, North Dakota writes: With this season coming to an end soon and Favre being forty and possible not coming back next year, I'm wondering if having him to learn from has had any effect on Jackson or Rosenfels to make you think that when he leaves the Vikings quarterback situation will not go back to what it was before this season?

Kevin Seifert: I’ll stand by what I’ve said before: The Vikings’ next quarterback is not currently on their roster. I personally believe the Tarvaris Jackson experiment has run its course and that he will have an opportunity to leave via free agency this winter. And nothing that happened during training camp convinced me that coach Brad Childress would feel comfortable naming Sage Rosenfels his starter.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 10:

Fantasy players, listen up: Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre has thrown more touchdown passes against Detroit (56) than any other NFL team. And here’s an interesting note from ESPN Stats & Information: Favre has thrown at least two touchdown passes in 11 consecutive games at the Metrodome, dating to the 2000 season. The NFL record is 12, set by Favre earlier in his career at Lambeau Field and Kurt Warner with St. Louis. What does it all mean? Favre has had the Lions’ number for a long time, and he is especially comfortable lately at the Metrodome.

Much is made of Detroit’s 18-year drought in Wisconsin, but the Lions have also built a dubious mark in Minnesota as well. They’ve gone 11 seasons without a victory at the Metrodome, last winning a 14-13 contest in 1997. There have been some close calls, most notably a 12-10 loss last season. (That game was in doubt until Ryan Longwell’s 38-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining.) To this point, the trend has transcended general managers, coaches and a generation of players. Whether it’s a trend or just coincidence, new coach Jim Schwartz and this group of players will have their hands full trying to reverse it Sunday. In a related statistic: The Lions have lost 16 consecutive road games.

Minnesota cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot) has missed most of the past three games, and he’s unlikely to play Sunday. What does that mean for the Lions? In Winfield’s absence, the Vikings have given up a net passing total of 781 yards and six touchdowns to Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Green Bay. Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, especially, should have a favorable matchup no matter how the Vikings decide to defend him. The big question will be whether the Lions’ offensive line gives quarterback Matthew Stafford enough time to throw. The Vikings lead the NFL with 31 sacks.

In the parlance of our youth(ful): OMG. I’m not sure any Green Bay fan wants to give much thought to the matchup with Dallas’ pass-rushers, including linebacker DeMarcus Ware. The Cowboys have 20 sacks this season, including five from Ware, but they have to be licking their chops as the Packers embark on another changeup on their offensive line. This week, it looks like rookie T.J. Lang will replace Mark Tauscher (knee) and Allen Barbre (concussion) at right tackle. The Packers’ porous pass protection has been well-discussed all season, but this isn’t a friendly matchup even by 2009 standards. Now would be a good time for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to quicken his release.

The Packers’ linebacker depth will be tested Sunday as well. With Aaron Kampman (concussion) and Brady Poppinga (quadriceps) expected to miss the game, the Packers are down to a pair of players who have seen almost no playing time on defense this season. Rookie Brad Jones is the likely starter at the left outside linebacker position, while Jeremy Thompson could see some action as well. Thompson worked with the first team for much of the offseason, but injuries sent him tumbling to the bottom of the depth chart. Jones, a seventh-round draft pick in April, is a natural outside linebacker in the 3-4 but otherwise is unheralded.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Chicago Bears: Safety Kevin Payne (back) was ruled out of Thursday night’s game at San Francisco and fellow safety Al Afalava (shoulder) is questionable. That could leave the Bears choosing between Craig Steltz and Josh Bullocks as their starter opposite Danieal Manning.

Detroit Lions: Linebackers Larry Foote (knee) and Ernie Sims (hamstring) did not practice. If neither can play, the Lions would likely use rookie DeAndre Levy at middle linebacker and Jordon Dizon in Sims’ spot on the weak side.

Green Bay Packers: Injuries have depleted the Packers’ outside linebacker position. Aaron Kampman (concussion) missed Wednesday’s practice, and Brady Poppinga came up with a quadriceps injury Tuesday and had an MRI on Wednesday. That leaves Brad Jones and Jeremy Thompson on the depth chart, and Jones took most of the snaps Wednesday. Tight end Jermichael Finley (knee) appears to be at least a week away. Right tackles Mark Tauscher (knee) and Allen Barbre (concussion) didn’t practice, leaving rookie T.J. Lang to work at right tackle.

Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback Antoine Winfield (sprain) was on the field working with defensive backs at the beginning of practice. Officially, his particiation was “limited.” Receiver Darius Reynaud (hamstring) had full participation for the first time since Week 3.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert


Three quick hits on the Green Bay Packers:

1. To the extent that a team can generate a preseason buzz, the Packers have done it. Their starters have rolled through the first three games, showing no sign of the malaise that left them 6-10 last season. Their starters have outscored opponents, 76-10. Green Bay’s offensive starters have yet to punt, having scored nine touchdowns on 12 possessions. Defensively, the Packers have forced 13 turnovers as they unveil the new 3-4 scheme. You have to be cautious about reading too much into preseason performance, but the Packers will be a playoff team if they play this way during the regular season.

Football Outsiders The Football Outsiders use their unique brand of analysis to break down each of the league's 32 teams. Green Bay Packers

2. No quarterback in the NFL has been sharper this preseason than quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has a 151.1 passer rating -- having thrown for six touchdowns and no interceptions. Importantly, the Packers’ rebuilt offensive line has not allowed him to be sacked. The NFC North has welcomed Jay Cutler (Chicago), Brett Favre (Minnesota) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit) this offseason. But at this point in time, Rodgers might be the top quarterback in the division.

3. When the Packers first announced their switch to the 3-4 defense, there was some concern about whether they had enough linebackers to fit the scheme. This preseason has proved they have some well-heeled depth. A pair of 2008 backups, Brandon Chillar and Desmond Bishop, have proved to be excellent blitzers and have been challenging for starting jobs. Rookie Clay Matthews has been limited by a hamstring injury, but at various times Brady Poppinga and Jeremy Thompson have made plays in his absence. I’m not sure if there is a superstar in this mix, but the Packers have more than enough good players to populate the position.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert Green Bay's evening practice Monday turned out to be a newsy one. When it was over, coach Mike McCarthy confirmed the likely arrangement of his opening week offensive line and gave some strong indications about the makeup of his linebacker corps. As for the line, McCarthy said that Jason Spitz will start at center, Josh Sitton at right guard and Allen Barbre at right tackle. (Left tackle Chad Clifton and left guard Daryn Colledge were already locked in.) The toughest decision was replacing four-year starter Scott Wells at center, and McCarthy had a long one-one-one conversation with him earlier in the day. McCarthy: "Very tough decision. Scott Wells has graded out at a very high level. Scott is probably one of our top three or four linemen as far as grading out so far in the preseason, so that was a very difficult situation as far as determining what starter to go with. Scott has been a starting center for us, has played a lot of football here, but this is the group that we feel we are going to start with this week. ..." Barbre had been competing with Breno Giacomini at right tackle, but McCarthy said: "I just think Allen is further ahead than Breno." Meanwhile, as Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel points out, linebacker Nick Barnett (knee) returned to full practice and immediately took Brandon Chillar's place in the starting lineup. And veteran Brady Poppinga continued working with the first team at right outside
linebacker despite the return of Jeremy Thompson. Rookie Clay Matthews (hamstring) remained sidelined, suggesting that Poppinga has the inside track to remain the starter. Continuing around the NFC North: Chillar and Desmond Bishop could see time in the Packers' nickel package, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Detroit placekicker Jason Hanson, who had surgery on his right knee earlier this month, remains hopeful he'll be ready to kick when the regular season begins. Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press has details. The Lions' top three receivers -- Calvin Johnson, Bryant Johnson and Dennis Northcutt -- have missed the first two preseason games. But all practiced Monday, writes Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Free Press. Lions coach Jim Schwartz on watching the film of last Saturday's preseason loss at Cleveland: "A lot of times they say, it's not as bad as you think and it's not as good as you think when you watch the film. I think it's one of those cases where it was every bit of bad as I thought." John Niyo of the Detroit News takes a closer look. Chicago is still getting used to what quarterback Jay Cutler can do, writes Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald. Safety Danieal Manning and cornerback Zack Bowman, who both have sore hamstrings, participated in part of practice Monday, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago. Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press looks at how the Vikings' offense might expand with quarterback Brett Favre. Vikings backup Sage Rosenfels will return to Houston when the Vikings play their third preseason game there next Monday, notes Chip Scoggins and Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert Green Bay's evening practice Monday turned out to be a newsy one. When it was over, coach Mike McCarthy confirmed the likely arrangement of his opening week offensive line and gave some strong indications about the makeup of his linebacker corps. As for the line, McCarthy said that Jason Spitz will start at center, Josh Sitton at right guard and Allen Barbre at right tackle. (Left tackle Chad Clifton and left guard Daryn Colledge were already locked in.) The toughest decision was replacing four-year starter Scott Wells at center, and McCarthy had a long one-one-one conversation with him earlier in the day. McCarthy: "Very tough decision. Scott Wells has graded out at a very high level. Scott is probably one of our top three or four linemen as far as grading out so far in the preseason, so that was a very difficult situation as far as determining what starter to go with. Scott has been a starting center for us, has played a lot of football here, but this is the group that we feel we are going to start with this week. ..." Barbre had been competing with Breno Giacomini at right tackle, but McCarthy said: "I just think Allen is further ahead than Breno." Meanwhile, as Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel points out, linebacker Nick Barnett (knee) returned to full practice and immediately took Brandon Chillar's place in the starting lineup. And veteran Brady Poppinga continued working with the first team at right outside linebacker despite the return of Jeremy Thompson. Rookie Clay Matthews (hamstring) remained sidelined, suggesting that Poppinga has the inside track to remain the starter. Continuing around the NFC North: Chillar and Desmond Bishop could see time in the Packers' nickel package, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Detroit placekicker Jason Hanson, who had surgery on his right knee earlier this month, remains hopeful he'll be ready to kick when the regular season begins. Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press has details. The Lions' top three receivers -- Calvin Johnson, Bryant Johnson and Dennis Northcutt -- have missed the first two preseason games. But all practiced Monday, writes Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Free Press. Lions coach Jim Schwartz on watching the film of last Saturday's preseason loss at Cleveland: "A lot of times they say, it's not as bad as you think and it's not as good as you think when you watch the film. I think it's one of those cases where it was every bit of bad as I thought." John Niyo of the Detroit News takes a closer look. Chicago is still getting used to what quarterback Jay Cutler can do, writes Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald. Safety Danieal Manning and cornerback Zack Bowman, who both have sore hamstrings, participated in part of practice Monday, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago. Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press looks at how the Vikings' offense might expand with quarterback Brett Favre. Vikings backup Sage Rosenfels will return to Houston when the Vikings play their third preseason game there next Monday, notes Chip Scoggins and Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

The mailbag has been a bit hit-or-miss here during training camp, where every day feels like Monday. Or Tuesday. I can't remember which. They all seem the same. But I thought I'd catch up on a few questions and remind everyone that you can contact me through this link, or via Facebook and even Twitter.

BT of Ripon, Wis., notes the Packers have three first-round picks at linebacker and wonders if it's true that all three are being either outperformed or nudged aside by lesser-known backups.

Kevin Seifert: BT, you open up an interesting can of worms. Let's take the players one by one.

1. Nick Barnett (No. 1 in 2003): Barnett remains on the physically unable to perform list while he rehabilitates after knee surgery. So it's not really his fault that Brandon Chillar has adapted nicely to the 3-4 defense and looks natural at one of the inside positions. Chillar is an excellent blitzer and defensive coordinator Dom Capers loves to send the blitz. But Chillar is also versatile and can play on the outside as well, which is why I think he won't be the permanent starter unless Barnett has a setback in his recovery. The Packers want to use Chillar in other places than just inside linebacker. Barnett could return as early as this week, and I expect him to reclaim his starting job.
2. A.J. Hawk (No. 1, 2006): Hawk has shuffled from outside to inside in his three seasons with the Packers, but I don't think he's in danger of losing his job to Desmond Bishop. While Bishop was aggressive early in camp, and had a strong game Saturday night in the Packers' preseason opener, Hawk appears to be very much in the Packers' plans this season.
3. Clay Matthews (No. 1, 2009): A nagging hamstring injury has really limited Matthews this summer, but backup Jeremy Thompson has also had health issues. If anyone has benefited, it's veteran Brady Poppinga -- whose pass rushing skills would seem to mesh decently with the 3-4. But the Packers made a significant sacrifice to draft Matthews and he will eventually get his shot.

In talking to Packers coach Mike McCarthy last week, he was really excited about the possibilities presented by the multiple substitution packages in this scheme. That means it's likely the Packers will be utilizing Chillar, Bishop, Thompson and Poppinga in certain packages regardless of whether any of them are in the starting lineup.

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Via Facebook, Brian asks: When do we find out if the Williams Wall is going to stay up or be out for 4 weeks? Or did I miss that?

Kevin Seifert: Nope, Brian, you didn't miss it. The next important date is Tuesday, when a federal appeals court will take its turn in the case. Boiled down, this hearing will eventually determine whether the case will proceed in state court or be thrown out.

If it proceeds, then both Kevin Williams and Pat Williams will be able to play the entire season and schedule a trial for the offseason. If it is thrown out, both players will be suspended for the first four games of the season. Their only recourse at that point would be to appeal to the United States Supreme Court. Stay tuned.

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Gale Shaffer of Warsaw, Ind., writes: Being a Bears fan, it appears the experts seem to believe the weak link is the receivers, which may or may not be true. It sure seems the offense has a lot of weapons in this area if you include the tight ends and Matt Forte. If this is proven to be wrong and a couple of these young receivers step up, what would be your take on Chicago's season considering the rest of the offense. As a fan I would maybe be more concerned with the defense and how they will perform than the offense. What's your take?

Kevin Seifert: After spending some time with the Bears last week, I'm in total agreement. If I had to pick one area of concern, I would choose the health and viability of their defensive personnel over the inexperience of their receivers.

Over four days, I saw defensive tackle Tommie Harris practice once. He is displaying all kinds of bad warning signs right now. The same goes for cornerback Nate Vasher. I wonder whether he will make the team this year. And given the injuries in their secondary -- Charles Tillman, Zackary Bowman, Danieal Manning -- it's hard to get a read on their pass defense.

Saturday night's preseason opener was not a good start. Buffalo's top two quarterbacks combined to complete 23 of 26 passes for 222 yards.

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Kent of Cleveland writes: I always love line picks so I have no problem with the Packers taking BJ Raji. I keep seeing that he is slated to play at DE. I know 3-4 DE's need to be bigger, but isn't 6-2 337 a little big for a DE? Is he that much of a gifted athlete? Seems like a lot of weight for a relatively short frame. What are your thoughts on his ideal position?

Kevin Seifert: It's a fair question. Based on his college experience, Raji's ideal position is the "undertackle" in a 4-3 scheme. That's the position played by Minnesota's Kevin Williams and Chicago's Tommie Harris, among others.

The Packers, of course, play a 3-4. Some people thought Raji would be the Packers' nose tackle, but they have decided -- at least for the short-term -- to use him at end with Ryan Pickett at nose tackle. As we discussed in June, that's a case of getting your best players on the field first and then deciding where to play them.

Raji might not be the absolute prototypical size to play defensive end, but he is a superior athlete. I'm really interested to see how he fares on the edge.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- It's been a great week here on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University, where I'm thankful to have spent four days observing the Bears and building a solid knowledge base of their team in its formative stages.

(For my next act, I'll be teaching a course in "How to Write Corporately." Check your local class offerings.)

My next stop is Indianapolis and Friday night's preseason opener between Minnesota and the Colts. Something tells me that preseason games this summer are going to be as notable for who doesn't play as they are for who does. With that in mind, below is a working list of prominent NFC North players who aren't likely to see action this weekend.

(This list is based on injury information culled from local media reports. Coaches may choose to hold out some players who are healthy.)

Chicago Bears

• Cornerback Zack Bowman
• Defensive tackle Tommie Harris
• Cornerback Charles Tillman
• (Two other players with an uncertain status: Safety Danieal Manning and linebacker Jamar Williams.)

Detroit Lions

• Safety Louis Delmas
• Receiver Bryant Johnson
• Receiver Calvin Johnson
• Running back Maurice Morris
• Tight end Brandon Pettigrew

Green Bay Packers

• Defensive end Johnny Jolly
• Defensive end Justin Harrell
• Linebacker Clay Matthews
• Linebacker Jeremy Thompson

Minnesota Vikings

• Nothing definite, but possibilities include center John Sullivan and receiver Bernard Berrian.

I'll check in later from Indianapolis. Have a wonderful afternoon.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

NFC North teams have been issuing their first depth charts this week as preseason games approach. Typically I pay little attention to these documents, which are disclaimed by an "unofficial" title and sometimes contain preposterous fudging that is plainly evident to anyone who has watched one practice.

This winter, however, the NFL clarified its media policy on the issue and now requires the depth chart to be "credible." (The league's word, not mine.) I guess we should see how it plays out. Below, I've listed some of the more interesting nuggets I saw this week. (Links provided where available.)*

Detroit Lions

• Daunte Culpepper is listed as the No. 1 quarterback ahead of Matthew Stafford
• Kalvin Pearson and Marquand Manuel are listed as first-team safeties.
• Louis Delmas, a likely starter at one of the safety positions, is listed as "injured."
• Phillip Buchanon is the top punt returner.

Green Bay Packers (Link)

• Scott Wells is listed as the first-team center.
• Jason Spitz is the first-team right guard.
• Jeremy Thompson is the first-team right outside linebacker, with Clay Matthews behind him.
• Punter Jeremy Kapinos is listed ahead of Durant Brooks.

Minnesota Vikings

• The Vikings cheated and listed their No. 1 quarterback as Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels.
  
• Sidney Rice was listed as a starting receiver opposite Bernard Berrian.
  
• Percy Harvin was listed as the kickoff returner.
  
• Jaymar Johnson was listed at punt returner.

*Chicago's depth chart had not been released as of Tuesday morning.