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We're planning posts on each NFC North team's cuts once they are official. Announcements could come at any point Saturday afternoon or evening, but for now let's round up some of the bigger names who are already reported to be on the way off their respective rosters.

• The Chicago Bears are planning to waive a good chunk of their 2009 draft, including defensive end Jarron Gilbert and receiver Juaquin Iglesias. They will also waive former starting left guard Josh Beekman. (Sources: ESPNChicago.com and Chicago Tribune.)
• The Detroit Lions will waive offensive lineman Jon Jansen, the loser of the right tackle competition with Gosder Cherilus. Other cuts include linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, who spent most of the summer as the No. 1 middle linebacker, and safety Ko Simpson. (Sources: Mlive.com and Detroit News.)
• The Green Bay Packers reached an injury settlement with offensive lineman Allen Barbre and also released safety/kick returner Will Blackmon. They might also trade tight end/linebacker Spencer Havner. (Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.)
• The Minnesota Vikings will waive two cornerbacks, DeAndre Wright and Marcus Sherels. That leaves them with three healthy cornerbacks on their roster, an indication they will make a trade or waiver claim at the position this weekend. (Source: Star Tribune and ESPN1500.com.)

Preseason play mercifully will end Thursday night, opening what is really a five-day window for NFL teams to settle on their final 53-man rosters and practice squads. Some teams will begin making cuts as soon as Friday morning. Everyone must be down to 53 by Saturday at 6 p.m. ET, but waiver claims, trades and other player movement could continue as late as next Tuesday before Week 1 practices begin in earnest.

As we approach the NFL's flea market season, let's identify one player who seems most at risk on each NFC North team.

Chicago Bears

Player: Running back Garrett Wolfe
Comment: We've been waiting for Wolfe's speed to translate into regular playmaking for three years, and his time might now be up. Although he's been a good special-teams player in the past, Wolfe is on the wrong side of the Bears' Matt Forte-Chester Taylor tailback tandem. If the Bears keep a third running back, it could be second-year player Kahlil Bell.

Detroit Lions

Player: Offensive lineman Jon Jansen
Comment: Jansen started two games last season as an emergency fill-in and has spent the summer competing with Gosder Cherilus for the starting right tackle job. But if Cherilus wins the job, as expected, the Lions might choose a younger player such as Corey Hilliard as a backup.

Green Bay Packers

Player: Tight end Donald Lee
Comment: The Packers have five tight ends that probably should make the team: Jermichael Finley, Spencer Havner, Tom Crabtree, rookie Andrew Quarless and the veteran Lee. But that's a high number, and you wonder if Lee wouldn't be the odd man out. He's scheduled to make $2 million this season, all of which would be guaranteed if he's on the Week 1 roster. That's premium money for a part-time player.

Minnesota Vikings

Player: Kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd
Comment: A kickoff specialist is a luxury reserved for only the biggest, most consistent boomers in the NFL. Lloyd, on the other hand, doesn't have a touchback this preseason and has been a big disappointment. It's possible the Vikings will give him time to straighten out, but their health-induced duress at other positions might make his roster spot too valuable.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher admits he still feels some residual pain as he returns from a dislocated wrist, but Urlacher told ESPNChicago.com that the injury is medically healed and he wants to "show everyone that I'm back."

As he entered his second full week of training camp, Urlacher added:

"I knew it would hold up because they told me it was healed. There's still pain. It still hurts sometimes. I'm thinking about putting it on [offensive linemen]. I'm like, 'Is this gonna hurt?' And it hasn't hurt yet. So it's been good. It hasn't hurt me on the field yet, which is really surprising. It makes me think about using my hands more, actually. This is the best I've used my hands since I've been with [Bears coach Lovie Smith] -- like getting off blocks and moving and getting to the football. They're big on that."

Even as national observers focus on the Bears' offensive transition under new coordinator Mike Martz, Urlacher's status is no less important. So far, so good.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune: "But through this early, first phase of practice, [Tommie] Harris and [Matt] Forte look like different players than they were in 2009 thanks to nobody but themselves."
• Bears quarterback Jay Cutler took a scheduled day off Monday, notes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• The Bears released their first depth chart of the summer. It was interesting to note that former right guard Roberto Garza was listed as the starting left guard, with Lance Louis on the right side.
• Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune on the "curious case" of Minnesota Vikings receiver Sidney Rice: "The situation is so vague that it has led to a growing feeling that Rice isn't rushing back in part because of a contract that will pay him a base salary of $550,000 this season with no escalators." Rice remains on the physically unable to perform list because of an unspecified hip injury.
• Vikings place-kicker Ryan Longwell said quarterback Brett Favre will determine his future based on how his surgically-repaired ankle feels, not based on a medical report. Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com has more.
• Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson is having the best camp of his career, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette on rookie Bryan Bulaga's shift to left guard: "The move raises a potential question about [Daryn] Colledge's future with the Packers if Bulaga wins the job. If that's the case, the Packers might think they have enough depth on the offensive line to trade Colledge to a team looking for a starting guard. With 60 NFL starts and no games missed in his four previous season, the 28-year-old probably could fetch a mid-to late-round draft pick or a better backup than the Packers currently have at a position of need."
• Jon Jansen continues to compete for the Detroit Lions' starting right tackle job, writes John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• Lions right guard Stephen Peterman had an MRI on his knee after swelling developed, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Manny Ramirez worked in his place with the first team.

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 29

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- If the measure of a good team is roster stability, then, well, we know where the Detroit Lions stand. General manager Martin Mayhew and coach Jim Schwartz spent most of their first year together operating like an expansion franchise, using their roster to sift through dozens of nomadic no-names and aging veterans while effecting a near-weekly rotation at a half-dozen positions -- left guard, defensive end, cornerback and safety chief among them.

So as they reported to training camp this summer, the Lions were hoping to slow that train and accelerate the installation of permanent building blocks in their lineup. Schwartz remains realistic about the job ahead of him but is certain the Lions are pointing in the right direction.

"Hope isn't a strategy," Schwartz said. "You need good players. I think what we proved last year is that we weren't ready to accept sub-par performance. We were willing to make changes and things like that. I think that was an important statement to make. In a perfect world, all of our positions would be solidified and you would feel good about it every week. Probably 32 NFL teams are going to be dissatisfied with a couple positions ... but I think the sign of a good team is having less spots that you look at and say, wow, what are they going to do there?"

After a few days at Lions training camp, it was evident the Lions are not there yet. But they're closer than they were last year, having upgraded at receiver, running back, tight end, left guard and along the entire defensive line. Questions remain at linebacker and in the secondary, but the Lions are working methodically to narrow that gap.

"We have a big sense of urgency," Schwartz said. "I don't want to say we've been patient. We just haven't deviated from our plan and we haven't gone too much for immediate gratification."

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can Matthew Stafford make the jump the Lions need? Stafford's rookie season wasn't unusual for a highly drafted quarterback. Playing on a bad team, he threw 20 interceptions in 10 games. Injuries cost him six starts. But after surrounding him with receiver Nate Burleson, tight end Tony Scheffler and running back Jahvid Best, the Lions are expecting a much more positive second-year experience.

Stafford spent the early part of the offseason studying the causes of each interception, concluding that the majority of them were "trying to make a play when it wasn't there," he said. He added: "A lot of them were on third-and-long. I've got to be better on third-and-long to trust our backs, to throw a checkdown and let him run and go get it. I have to know that the best teams in this league are 35 percent [conversion rate] on third-and-long. Not everybody's making it every time. The goal this year is to stay out of those as much as possible."

The potential is there. Stafford has spent the entire offseason working with receivers, putting a special emphasis on developing chemistry with Calvin Johnson. He has taken every first-team snap in practice and has a set of skill players that can rival other NFC North offenses.

"We have a lot of weapons this year," he said. "It's up to us to get some rhythm and get it going."

2. Can an overhauled defensive line compensate for uncertainty at linebacker and safety? I like to compare the Lions' defense to an episode of "Hoarders." When Mayhew and Schwartz opened the front door, they found a mass of junk. So they picked one corner, the defensive line, and starting digging their way out.

As training camp opened, the Lions had NFL-caliber starters at right end (Kyle Vanden Bosch) and nose tackle (Corey Williams), along with a potential superstar in defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. But remember, the Lions are the only team since the 1970 merger to finish with the NFL's worst defense in three consecutive years. In order to move up significantly in those standings, they'll need their line to be so good that it overshadows inexperience at linebacker and another year of patchwork in the secondary.

"If this defense is going to be good, it's going to be on us up front, and we're just going to have to wreak havoc," Vanden Bosch said. "We're going to have to bring energy to every practice and we're just going to have to keep on pushing each other and make improvements."

As we discussed earlier this week, it's schematically possible for an elite pass rush and strong run-stoppers to reduce the strain placed on other positions. Based on how the rest of the Lions' defense is shaping up, they'll need nothing less.

3. Can the Lions expunge what safety Louis Delmas referred to as a "ho-hum attitude?" If you're keeping track, the Lions have lost 31 of their past 33 games and 37 of their past 40. You often hear about new attitudes in training camp, so take this for what it's worth. After jettisoning a number of veteran players this offseason, Delmas said that now "everyone wants to be here and they want to learn." He added: "That's something I don't think we had last year. Guys were just here. The coaches are motivating us to go out there and get better. We've got a great attitude."

As for low expectations among national observers, Stafford said: "I don't think anyone here believes that. They play the games for a reason. The season hasn't started yet. Everybody is 0-0. Come the first Sunday, it's go out there and prove it and see what we can do."

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Tight end Brandon Pettigrew tore an anterior cruciate ligament on Thanksgiving Day 2009. A little more than eight months later, Pettigrew was back on the field doing much more than at least I would have expected. He's practicing at least once per day and participating in some contact drills, even while wearing a brace on his knee.

If he has a hitch in his gait, it's barely noticeable. And on at least one play this week, Pettigrew displayed enough speed to get past linebacker Julian Peterson and catch a nice seam pass from Stafford. "He's had a really good rehab and we don't want to set him back by trying to do too much too soon," Schwartz said. At this rate, it seems quite reasonable to expect Pettigrew to be ready for a significant role in the season-opening game at Soldier Field. That has to be the best-case scenario the Lions could have imagined when the injury first occurred.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Two key parts of any defensive improvement the Lions will have this season weren't on the field for any part of the five practices I watched. Delmas hasn't practiced since the spring because of a groin injury that Schwartz said has healed but impacted his conditioning. But Delmas is an "established" player who probably could get away with missing a portion of training camp after starting 15 games last season. Linebacker DeAndre Levy, however, needs every practice rep he can get while making the permanent transition from the outside to the middle. Levy reported to training camp with tightness in his back, and he was pulled from practice this week. There is no long-term concern at this point, and the Lions must hope nothing develops. At this point, there are no viable internal options to turn to. Levy's backup is veteran Vinny Ciurciu, an undersized career special-teams player.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Burleson signed a five-year, $25 million contract in the offseason that included $11 million in guaranteed money. Then, in one of the first meetings of the Lions' reconfigured receiver position, Burleson stood up to speak. "There's a lot of things that can get between players when new guys come along, especially when money's involved," he said. "So I made an announcement that I've been in the league long enough to know, as a guy who just got paid, I'm going to play a lot. So my goal is to prove I'm worth more than what they paid me. I'm here for the team, not to pat myself on the back." In part because No. 1 receiver Calvin Johnson is so quiet, Burleson has taken on the leadership role of this group.
• Johnson is hopeful that coverages will loosen on him this season, but it will require players like Burleson making big plays to do it. Burleson doesn't think it will be a problem. "My goal is to come in and make enough plays to where Calvin will get more single coverage and Bryant [Johnson] will make plays," he said. "You hear about [Terrell Owens] and Chad [Ochocinco] in Cincinnati. I'm going to say firsthand that we will be the most-respected receiving corps after it's all said and done." Wow.
• Suh is one serious man. During a news conference to announce his arrival to camp, a reporter asked a pretty standard first-day question for a top draft pick: "What are you going to treat yourself to after becoming a millionaire?" Most players bite and say they bought a new car, or a house for their mother or some such splurge. Suh? Here's what he said: "I'm treating myself to getting on this field and getting ready." OK then.
• Vanden Bosch makes it a point to touch the ball on every practice play from scrimmage. Sometimes that happens at the line of scrimmage. But whether the play comes directly toward him or goes 30 yards downfield, he chases without fail. If that means sprinting 40 yards, so be it. Although the Lions didn't necessarily sign Vanden Bosch for that reason, he sets an excellent example for a historically moribund defense. "You don't get any points for that," Schwartz said. "But if I was a professional football player, I would hope that I would practice and I would play the way Kyle Vanden Bosch does. I think it is contagious for sure and I think that it's tremendous leadership. I think it makes the running backs better. The running backs are now finishing their runs deeper down the field because they don't want him catching them."
• Right tackle Gosder Cherilus, the Lions' No. 1 draft pick in 2008, might be down to his final chance to lock down a permanent starting job. He's sharing repetitions with veteran Jon Jansen, and a decision might not come until the end of the preseason.
• Linebacker Zack Follett is on his way to locking down the weakside linebacker job a year after he nearly cost himself his career with a poor showing in training camp. "I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off," Follett said. "This year, it's 100 percent different."
• Poor Chris Houston. As the Lions' erstwhile No. 1 cornerback, Houston finds himself lined up against Johnson in 1-on-1 drills more often than not. That's not even fair. I saw Houston make some decent plays against other receivers, suggesting he deserves to be on the field as a starter. But few teams have a true No. 1 cornerback, and the Lions aren't one of them.
• With Delmas injured, the same four players made up the first-team secondary during my visit: Houston and Jonathan Wade at cornerback, with C.C. Brown and Marvin White at safety. One thing I'll say is that Wade is feisty, even if he is a bit undersized. Delmas noticed the same thing. "He gave up a big play on Calvin," Delmas said. "And then he came back to us as a group and said, 'We can't do that! I can't do that!' Then he went out and didn't give up another big play. In order to be one of the best secondaries in the NFL, we have to start with that."
• In an earlier post, I suggested that rookie receiver Tim Toone had looked sharp and ranked him no worse than No. 4 among the Lions' receivers. In the comments section, some of you suggested that second-year receiver Derrick Williams was having a better camp than I gave him credit for. All I can say is that every time I looked, Williams was dropping a pass while Toone was catching one. Regardless, there is a long way to go for both players.
• One beneficiary of Suh's holdout was second-year defensive tackle Sammie Hill. Schwartz said Hill "has taken the biggest step that I've seen him take." Assuming those weren't just kind words for a player destined to cede his first-team status to Suh, this development offers the Lions a level of depth they didn't have last season.

Of the eight divisions, the NFC North reports to camp the latest. All four teams arrive July 30.

Figuring Brett Favre will report to Minnesota sometime after the Vikings break camp in Mankato, Minn., that seems fitting. All good things come to those who wait.

The NFC North, once known as a pounding-the-rock division, is now one of the more interesting for quarterback play. Favre, who is expected to return, and Aaron Rodgers of the Packers are among the league’s elite quarterbacks. Jay Cutler of the Bears hopes to regain that status after a poor 2009 season. The Lions drafted Matthew Stafford with the hope of him being one of the next great ones.

FOUR BIG QUESTIONS

Chicago Bears: Can new offensive coordinator Mike Martz add enough offense to the Bears to catch up to the Vikings or Packers?

Martz adds five to six points a game to any offense he’s around, so there is no question the Bears will be better on offense. Cutler likes what he sees, but the Bears must tighten their defense because the season will be a roller-coaster ride if they play 27-24 games every week. Keep an eye on the defense -- it ranked only 17^th in 2009 -- in camp and during the preseason.

Detroit Lions: Can the Lions generate enough of a running game to make it easier on Stafford?

Probably not. The Lions averaged only 25.6 rushing attempts a game last season, meaning Stafford needed to complete 24 or 25 passes a game for the offense to be good. Keep an eye on rookie RB Jahvid Best in camp. He will add explosiveness. Last year’s starter, Kevin Smith, is coming off knee reconstruction and may not be ready to earn quality first- and second-down yards.

Green Bay Packers: What’s the biggest concern on defense?

The Packers must sort out their cornerback situation in camp. Al Harris is coming off a major injury, so they must make sure that Tramon Williams is ready to take over if Harris is not ready for the start of the regular season. They also must develop Pat Lee as a key backup just in case.

Minnesota Vikings: While they wait for Favre to return, what is the main job of the Vikings’ offense this summer?

Ensuring that Adrian Peterson protects the football would be nice. Peterson has an NFL-high 20 fumbles the past three seasons. Vikings head coach Brad Childress knows that Peterson’s aggressive style sometimes will lead to fumbles, but a repeat of late-season fumbling issues by Peterson would not be good. Peterson fumbled twice and caused a turnover on a third play when he botched a handoff in the second quarter against the Saints in the NFC Championship Game.

HOTTEST SEATS

Bears: Head coach Lovie Smith. This is an easy one. Smith is on the hottest seat in the division. If the Bears don’t have a winning record this season, anyone who isn’t a McCaskey or a Halas will lose his job. It’s win or else.

Lions: Right tackle Gosder Cherilus: Former Redskins veteran Jon Jansen was signed to be an insurance policy, but Jansen came out of the offseason program in competition for a starting job. The right tackle job is there for the taking. Cherilus is big and physical, but he’s on the hot seat.

Packers: Safety Atari Bigby. The Packers rewarded free safety Nick Collins with a four-year, $30.4 million contract. Bigby isn’t happy that he was given the $1.759 million restricted tender and hasn’t signed it. Plus, the Packers drafted strong safety Morgan Burnett in the third round and seem to like him.

Vikings: Backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels. Before Favre joined the Vikings last season, Rosenfels competed against Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job. Rosenfels left the offseason program as the fourth quarterback, behind rookie Joe Webb, who was drafted to play receiver. Rosenfels’ seat is burning.

SECRET WEAPON

Bears receivers: Want a weird stat? The Bears are tied with the Vikings for most Pro Bowl players at wide receiver. That’s right. The Vikings have Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin. The Packers have only Donald Driver as a Pro Bowler, although Greg Jennings has been on the Pro Bowl radar the past couple of years. Bears wide receivers Devin Hester and Johnny Knox have each been to the Pro Bowl. The problem is that each made it as a returner, not a receiver. Those trips vouch for their athletic abilities, but it makes them ultimate secret weapons in the Mike Martz offense. Hester has receiving skills similar to Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers, but he tends to wear down the more routes he runs. Plus, he is challenged by the adjustments receivers must make on routes. Knox’s game is speed, but the second-year player still must polish his receiving skills.

Martz and the Bears said they like their receiving corps, but how good is it? If Hester and Knox are raw talents who can turn into solid receivers, the Bears could emerge as one of the league’s surprise offenses.

Another receiver to follow in training camp is Devin Aromashodu. This is Aromashodu’s fifth team, but Jay Cutler treated him as though he were his favorite receiver in the second half of last season. He caught 22 passes in the final five games. It’s hard to categorize Bears receivers into who is the legitimate No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3. It will be interesting to see how this sorts out in camp.

WILD CARD: DETROIT’S SECONDARY

How quickly the Lions’ secondary jells this summer could determine the fate of Detroit’s division rivals. In many ways, the Lions are the wild card of this division because the Vikings, Packers and Bears are each counting on two wins against Detroit if they want to get a better seeding in the playoffs or, in the case of the Bears, make the playoffs.

No secondary has undergone more change the past two offseasons than the Lions’. Detroit’s passing defense was abysmal last season, ranking last in the NFL. Opponents threw for 266 yards a game, with a 68.1 completion percentage and a 107.0 QB rating. Obviously that won’t cut it in a division that features Favre, Rodgers and Cutler.

Safety Louis Delmas, a second-round pick in 2009, seems to be a good piece to build around. Lions coach Jim Schwartz must sort out whether Ko Simpson, Marquand Manuel or C.C. Brown is the strong safety to pair with Delmas.

It’s a roll of the dice at cornerback. Eric King is the only corner returning from last season, but he started only one game for the Lions. The Lions acquired Chris Houston from the Falcons in a trade and have high hopes for third-round choice Amari Spievey. The Lions also have Jonathan Wade and Dre’ Bly, who played for Detroit from 2003-2006, but he’s 33.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Chicago Bears

ESPN Chicago's Michael C. Wright sees reason for optimism in Year 2 under Mike Martz.

Detroit Lions

Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News says the Lions appear to have assembled a competitive defense seemingly overnight.

Lions offensive tackle Jon Jansen answers questions from fans in the Detroit Free Press.

Green Bay Packers

Jermichael Finley is trying to absorb all of the information he can working out at Larry Fitzgerald's football camp.

Former Packers player Tom Pagna, who also assisted Ara Parseghian at Notre Dame, died Tuesday in South Bend, Ind.

Minnesota Vikings

Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson said he struggled with his stamina during Fitzgerald's camp.

ESPN Chicago's Wright breaks down the Vikings.

One word describes my general impression of organized team activities in the NFL: dull. But that clearly wasn't the case Thursday in Detroit, where players brawled near the end of a two-minute drill on an 85-degree day.

Right guard Stephen Peterman and defensive tackle Landon Cohen were the two main combatants, according to John Niyo of the Detroit News. But as the scrum widened, coach Jim Schwartz found himself in the middle breaking it up.

Said Schwartz: "No, that was Greco-Roman wrestling -- that wasn't boxing. Guys were hot, guys were competitive and guys crossed the line a little bit too much. And I think they all know in OTAs that I can't fine anybody. So they didn't miss their opportunity to get a free one in."

Continuing around the NFC North as we head into the holiday weekend:

• Lions right tackle Gosder Cherilus (knee) returned to practice Thursday, according to Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press. Jon Jansen continued to work with the first team.
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune: "One of the great mysteries of the Bears' offseason is what the heck happened to Al Afalava."
• Danieal Manning is excited to be playing strong safety for the Chicago Bears, writes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel takes a look at the Green Bay Packers' changes to their board and Executive Committee.
• Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams want their 18-month lawsuit against the NFL to be over, writes Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.
• The Vikings' band will be back together in 2010, writes Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• The Vikings have their fingers crossed that middle linebacker E.J. Henderson will be ready to start the season, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.

As we head into the second full week of free agency, it's probably a good time to revise our look at each NFC North team's unsigned players. We haven't had a restricted free agent (RFA) receive an offer sheet yet, so we'll limit this post to unrestricted free agents (UFAs) -- who have total freedom to sign with another team.

Chicago Bears
UFAs as of March 5: Linebacker Darrell McClover, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, running back Adrian Peterson, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.
Comment: None have re-signed. The Bears are trying to bring back Tinoisamoa.

Detroit Lions
UFAs as of March 5: Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, offensive lineman Damion Cook, quarterback Daunte Culpepper, tight end Casey Fitzsimmons, linebacker Larry Foote, tight end Will Heller, cornerback Anthony Henry, cornerback Will James, offensive lineman Jon Jansen, safety Marquand Manuel, quarterback Patrick Ramsey.
Comment: Ciurciu, Heller and Jansen have re-signed. Foote seems likely to return to Pittsburgh.

Green Bay Packers
UFAs as of March 5: Offensive lineman Chad Clifton, running back Ahman Green, linebacker Aaron Kampman, offensive lineman Mark Tauscher.
Comment: Clifton and Tauscher have re-signed. Kampman signed with Jacksonville.

Minnesota Vikings
UFAs as of March 5: Offensive lineman Artis Hicks, defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, cornerback Benny Sapp, running back Chester Taylor.
Comment: Kennedy and Sapp re-signed. Taylor signed with Chicago. Hicks signed with Washington.

Detroit's acquisition of defensive tackle Corey Williams made veteran Grady Jackson expendable, and the Lions announced Jackson's release Friday afternoon.

The Lions have a much younger, healthier and cheaper version of Jackson already on their roster in Sammie Lee Hill. Williams and Hill could share time with either Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy if the Lions make one of the latter two players the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.

Meanwhile, the Lions have also re-signed two of their unrestricted free agents Friday. Offensive lineman Jon Jansen and linebacker Vinny Ciurciu each agreed to one-year extensions.

Chicago Bears

Potential unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Darrell McClover, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, running back Adrian Peterson, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.

Potential restricted free agents: Defensive end Mark Anderson, safety Josh Bullocks, safety Danieal Manning, linebacker Nick Roach, linebacker Jamar Williams.

Franchise player: None

What to expect: With no picks in the first or second round of next month's draft, the Bears are gearing up for a relatively major jump into free agency. They're expected to bid for defensive end Julius Peppers and possible safety Antrel Rolle and would also like to re-sign linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa. Tight end Brandon Manumaleuna could also be a target. Manumaleuna played for new offensive coordinator Mike Martz in St. Louis.

Detroit Lions

Potential unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, offensive lineman Damion Cook, quarterback Daunte Culpepper, tight end Casey Fitzsimmons, linebacker Larry Foote, tight end Will Heller, cornerback Anthony Henry, cornerback Will James, offensive lineman Jon Jansen, safety Marquand Manuel, quarterback Patrick Ramsey.

Potential restricted free agents: Defensive end Copeland Bryan, offensive lineman Dylan Gandy, defensive lineman Jason Hunter, offensive lineman Daniel Loper, offensive lineman Manny Ramirez, safety Ko Simpson, linebacker Cody Spencer.

Franchise player: None

What to expect: The Lions aren't likely to be as active as they were last year, but general manager Martin Mayhew said over the winter that he could envision a five- or six-man free agent class. Running back, defensive end and defensive back are all positions they will investigate. They'll also need to find a backup quarterback, assuming Daunte Culpepper moves on.

Green Bay Packers

Potential unrestricted free agents: Offensive lineman Chad Clifton, running back Ahman Green, linebacker Aaron Kampman, offensive lineman Mark Tauscher.

Potential restricted free agents: Safety Atari Bigby, defensive back Will Blackmon, offensive lineman Daryn Colledge, safety Nick Collins, defensive end Johnny Jolly, running back John Kuhn, offensive lineman Jason Spitz, cornerback Tramon Williams.

Franchise player: Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett

What to expect: The Packers will have a demanding offseason filled with difficult decisions. To this point, they haven't re-signed either of their starting offensive tackles. They are clearly approaching injured linebacker Aaron Kampman with caution. And they have a long line of restricted free agents who would like long-term contracts, starting with Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins. The Packers have more than enough to keep them busy, but they haven't dabbled much in free agency in recent years, anyway.

Minnesota Vikings

Potential unrestricted free agents: Offensive lineman Artis Hicks, defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, cornerback Benny Sapp, running back Chester Taylor.

Potential restricted free agents: Offensive lineman Ryan Cook, defensive end Ray Edwards, defensive tackle Fred Evans, safety Eric Frampton, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, fullback Naufahu Tahi.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: The Vikings are awaiting word from quarterback Brett Favre on the 2010 season, a decision that could impact their offseason plans. They would like tailback Chester Taylor back, but it's possible Taylor will at least test his value on the open market. As a Final Four team, the Vikings will be limited to signing players that have been released by other teams unless they lose one of their own unrestricted free agents first.

» AFC Free Agency: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

An early look at the free agency situation in the NFC North.

Note: These projected lists reflect notable unrestricted free agents for each team. The NFL will not issue an official list of free agents until the signing period begins March 5.

Chicago Bears

Unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Darrell McClover, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, running back Adrian Peterson, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.

Key figures: Defensive end Mark Anderson and safety Danieal Manning are two key players who would have joined the list of unrestricted free agents if the NFL weren't on track for an uncapped offseason. The Bears can block both from moving now. Ogunleye is unlikely to return if he's seeking significant money. The Bears want to re-sign Tinoisamoa, even after his injury-shortened 2009 debut. Peterson's eight-year run with the team might be coming to a close.

Detroit Lions

Unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, offensive lineman Damion Cook, quarterback Daunte Culpepper, tight end Casey Fitzsimmons, linebacker Larry Foote, tight end Will Heller, cornerback Anthony Henry, cornerback Will James, offensive lineman Jon Jansen, safety Marquand Manuel, quarterback Patrick Ramsey.

Key figures: The Lions have a total of 20 unrestricted and restricted free agents, a product of the extended roster tryouts they held throughout the 2009 season. The biggest name among their UFAs is Foote, who seems unlikely to return and should be replaced by DeAndre Levy. Culpepper will seek offers on the open market, but it's not out of the question he could return as Matthew Stafford's backup. James had some moments in 2009 and might be worth a return engagement.

Green Bay Packers

Unrestricted free agents: Offensive tackle Chad Clifton, running back Ahman Green, linebacker Aaron Kampman, nose tackle Ryan Pickett, offensive tackle Mark Tauscher.

Key figures: The Packers have a notable list that includes four starters and would have included six more if not for the uncapped year. Clifton will be 34 this summer and Tauscher will turn 33, and it's time for the Packers to begin a succession plan at both positions. T.J. Lang figures as Tauscher's replacement, but Tauscher was actually playing better than Clifton at the end of 2009. Kampman seems unlikely to return as a linebacker in the 3-4, especially while he rehabilitates a knee injury. Pickett could be phased out by B.J. Raji.

Minnesota Vikings

Unrestricted free agents: Offensive lineman Artis Hicks, defensive lineman Jimmy Kennedy, receiver Greg Lewis, cornerback Benny Sapp, running back Chester Taylor.

Key figures: Taylor is perhaps the most valuable backup tailback in the league, considering his abilities as a receiver and third-down converter. He will be 31 when the 2010 season begins, but figures to get some attention if he enters the free-agent market. The Vikings want him back, but probably won't devote a huge salary to him with starter Adrian Peterson approaching the expiration of his contract. Sapp probably made himself some money with a credible replacement of injured starter Antoine Winfield.

After Minnesota’s 27-10 victory over Detroit, here are three (mostly) indisputable facts I feel relatively sure about:

1. Vikings coach Brad Childress was so upset about a third-quarter roughing call on defensive end Ray Edwards that he called Mike Pereira, the NFL’s vice president of officiating, immediately after the game. And I mean immediately. The two had already spoken by the time Childress arrived for his news conference, no more than 15 minutes after the game. It was a tough call to accept if you’re a Vikings coach, player or fan. Edwards was fully airborne, with little ability to control his impact with Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. And it’s questionable, at best, that Edwards hit Stafford’s helmet. Regardless, I think Childress’ reaction provides some interesting insight into both his game-day intensity and, frankly, obsession, with officiating. Let’s just say he and Pereira are well-acquainted by phone.
2. Edwards overpowered Lions right tackles Gosder Cherilus and Jon Jansen throughout the game and probably had his best performance as a pro. His unofficial stat line included five tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. That doesn’t include the sack and forced fumble he lost on the penalty described in the point above. I haven’t gone back and watched every play again, but I think it was pretty evident the Lions decided they weren’t going to allow defensive end Jared Allen to beat them and schemed their blocking accordingly. Allen was quiet, making it all the more important for Edwards to put that type of performance on tape. Future opponents will know there is a consequence for sliding all of your attention toward Allen.
3. Let’s give a tip of the cap to Rick Spielman, the Vikings vice president of player personnel, for making receiver Sidney Rice a semi-controversial second-round draft pick in 2007. The Vikings needed immediate receiver help at the time, and Spielman chose South Carolina’s Rice -- a 20-year-old project -- over the more experienced and well-known Dwayne Jarrett of USC. I’d say the decision worked out pretty well. Rice is on pace for a 78-catch, 1,400-yard season. In three years with Carolina, Jarrett has 26 receptions for 277 yards.

And here is one question I’m still asking:

Why did the Vikings hand the ball to backup fullback Jeff Dugan on a fourth-and-1 attempt in the second quarter? Actually, I’m cheating a little bit. I’m not asking that question anymore because I think I know the answer. Sunday, I suggested that Dugan has been pretty efficient in short-yardage plays throughout his career. Monday, I found the numbers to back it up. Prior to Sunday’s play, Dugan had converted seven of his eight career carries into first downs. On the play, Lions defensive tackle Grady Jackson crashed into the backfield and stopped Dugan. Jackson probably would have wrapped up tailback Adrian Peterson as well.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

CHICAGO -- We Black and Bluers took it on the chin Sunday in what was by far the worst weekend of 2009 in this division. Chicago took a beating at home. Green Bay bumbled to an embarrassing loss to a previously winless team. Detroit surrendered a 17-0 first-quarter lead.

It’s now fair to question whether an NFC wild card will come from this division. Right now, it doesn’t feel likely. We’ve got people calling for at least two of our coaches and general managers, and this week promises to be pretty interesting for fallout and/or spin control.

Before moving back to NFC North headquarters, however, let's take a spin through local game coverage:

• Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times thinks Bears coach Lovie Smith’s tenure should come to an end: “Players actually win and lose games, but the coach is the man responsible and when he's powerless to correct the problems, he's finished.”
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune isn’t calling for Smith’s ouster but writes it’s now clear the Bears won’t make the playoffs: “This is what mediocrity looks like. A 24-point win followed by a 20-point loss. Stability has left the building, and so should talk about the Bears being a wild-card team.”
• Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago traces the bizarre meltdown of defensive tackle Tommie Harris over the past two years.
• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette on the Packers’ 38-28 loss at Tampa Bay: “It marks the low point of the Mike McCarthy coaching tenure in Green Bay and raises serious questions about where the Packers are heading.”
• The Packers are on pace to allow 74 sacks, notes Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The team record for sacks in a season is 62.
• Packers running back Ryan Grant on the beating quarterback Aaron Rodgers has taken: “I’m surprised he gets up sometimes.” Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee explains.
• Detroit benched two of their older players, guard Jon Jansen and defensive tackle Grady Jackson, prior to Sunday’s game at Seattle. Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press explains why.
• John Niyo of the Detroit News wonders if quarterback Matthew Stafford’s right knee, originally injured Oct. 4, is still bothering him. Stafford threw five interceptions Sunday and has a 47.4 completion percentage the past two weeks.
• Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com writes there is some “unease” in the Lions locker room “about running back Kevin Smith remaining the team's No. 1 running back despite a lack of production for most of the season.”

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Most teams come out of their bye week with some personnel and lineup tweaks. As we noted Tuesday, Detroit has apparently halted its rotation at left guard and inserted a third player as a new starter: veteran Jon Jansen. Here's John Niyo's report in the Detroit News.

The move puts two old Michigan teammates -- Jansen and left tackle Jeff Backus -- next to each other on the Lions’ line. Jansen has been almost exclusively a tackle in his career. At 33, most NFL teams thought his career was over before the Lions signed him this offseason.

As we discussed last week, there is some merit to creating a meritocracy that requires accountability and prevents underperforming players from staying on the field indefinitely. But I also think that at some point it would benefit the Lions to settle on a lineup for the sake of continuity and allowing chemistry to build.

Jansen is the shortest of short-term answers at left guard. Hopefully his insertion into the starting lineup signals the Lions recognize they need to improve their line in the long term as well.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Lions are asking their defensive backs to reduce their mistakes, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette ponders the Packers’ options for blocking Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen.
• A few weeks ago, we had you have at Brett Favre’s comment about the stature of his current team. On Wednesday, Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel speaks to members of the 1996 Packers team about Favre’s contention.
• Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews tells ESPN Milwaukee’s Jason Wilde why he negotiated his rent down $300 from the original price, and much more.
• Minnesota place-kicker Ryan Longwell recounts his returns to Lambeau Field with Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.
• Rookie defensive back Asher Allen made a positive impression last Sunday in his first NFL game, writes Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Chicago coach Lovie Smith has challenged defensive tackle Tommie Harris to begin practicing every day, writes ESPN Chicago’s Jeff Dickerson.
• The Bears will pay tribune Sunday on the 10th anniversary of the death of running back Walter Payton, writes Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune.
• Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times offers four ways to fix the Bears, including a suggestion to tighten coverage.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Catching up on a newsy Tuesday:

Detroit Lions: Two previously-injured players participated in a post-bye practice -- quarterback Matthew Stafford (knee) and defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill -- and the Lions unveiled a slightly reconfigured offensive line. According to John Niyo of the Detroit News, veteran Jon Jansen has replaced the rotation of Manny Ramirez and Daniel Loper at left guard. When asked what he learned about Stafford’s bye-week progress during Tuesday’s practice, coach Jim Schwartz said: “Nothing.” Receiver Calvin Johnson (knee) did not participate Tuesday.

Green Bay Packers: Receiver Jake Allen was promoted from the practice squad to take the roster spot of receiver Brett Swain, who was placed on injured reserve (knee). Allen made some intriguing plays during the time I spent at Green Bay’ training camp.

Minnesota Vikings: There will be a Congressional hearing on the Williams Wall case, according to Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The inquiry will come before the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection on Nov. 3, the Tuesday of the Vikings’ bye week. This stuff is way out of my lane. But according to Murphy, the NFL is asking Congress to pass a federal law that would invalidate the Minnesota state laws that thus far has allowed both players to avoid a four-game suspension.