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FALLING

1. Backup receivers in Minnesota: Personnel distribution sometimes is a function of individual game-planning decisions, but it sure looks like Bernard Berrian and Greg Camarillo are going to have a hard time getting into the Minnesota Vikings' rotation as long as Randy Moss and Percy Harvin are healthy. Berrian has been a starter since his high-priced arrival in 2008 and Camarillo was acquired this summer from the Miami Dolphins for nickelback Benny Sapp. But Greg Lewis served as the No. 3 receiver in Monday night's game at the New York Jets, and neither Berrian nor Camarillo had a pass thrown his way. According to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com, Berrian got 13 snaps and Camarillo was on the field for seven of 62 offensive plays.

2. Fourth-quarter play in Green Bay: ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer pointed out some painful statistics this week: The Packers' offense has scored one touchdown, committed four turnovers and been penalized 15 times in the combined fourth quarters of five games this season. Those numbers are a big part of why they have two last-second losses on their record already, and they don't bode well for long-term success. It's difficult to pinpoint a reason; conditioning, mental toughness and/or general organization are just guesses. But unless the Packers can start building insurmountable leads, they're going to have to find a way to be more efficient at the end of games.

3. Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings quarterback: Elbow tendinitis and an ongoing NFL investigation made for a pretty dark week, and they threaten to consume what Favre has said is his final season. The league would like to complete its inquiry as quickly as possible, but there is no formal timetable. At the very least, Favre faces the possibility of an uncomfortable conversation with commissioner Roger Goodell. Discipline, if merited, could range anywhere from a fine to suspension. Aside from that issue, Favre matched the second-lowest completion percentage (41.2) of his career in Monday night's game. It's hard to imagine that tendinitis didn't affect at least some of his 20 incompletions.

RISING

1. Chicago Bears rushing game: In part because of quarterback Todd Collins' ineffectiveness, the Bears ran a season-high 42 running plays in last Sunday's 23-6 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Starter Matt Forte responded with a career-high 166 yards, while backup Chester Taylor helped run out the clock in the second half. It's hard to imagine offensive coordinator Mike Martz averaging 42 rushing plays per game, especially with starter Jay Cutler (concussion) on track to return to the lineup this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. But the best offense is a balanced offense -- or, at least, one that has demonstrated the promise of balance. It's a maxim that Martz hasn't always lived by.

2. Upper Midwest medical costs: NFC North teams should be pretty close to fulfilling their deductibles by now. An incredible number of high-profile players have already suffered significant injuries, including all four starting quarterbacks. Usually, it's safe to say that the healthiest team wins a division. This year, however, it might be decided by the quality of depth. Little-noticed decisions could come into major play. Example: The Packers lost tailback Kregg Lumpkin via waivers when they tried to sign him to their practice squad last month. Had he remained with them, Lumpkin probably would have been the best candidate to replace injured starter Ryan Grant.

3. Confidence in Detroit: It had been 15 years since the Detroit Lions enjoyed a 38-plus point victory, and by all accounts, last Sunday was raucous at Ford Field. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has already predicted the Lions won't lose another home game this season, and some fans are calling for Shaun Hill to keep the starting quarterback job even after starter Matthew Stafford returns from a shoulder injury. I think we can recognize the Hill-Stafford "controversy" as silly talk, but it's an opinion driven by excitement rather than depression. Three near-wins followed by a blowout victory have the engines started in Detroit.

If you made a list of five players the Green Bay Packers could least afford to lose, would tailback Ryan Grant be on it? That's the question you should ask yourself Tuesday afternoon after the news that a torn ankle ligament will end his season.

The Packers officially placed Grant on injured reserve and signed rookie Dimitri Nance from the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad, a move that indicates they will push forward with Brandon Jackson as their indefinite starter. Grant is a proven producer who has rushed for 3,457 yards since midway through the 2007 season, but I'm not ready to declare his loss a catastrophe just yet.

Before you hit me with the inevitable "this-is-just-your-Packers-bias" notes to the mailbag, let me explain. I do think there is a significant drop-off from Grant to Jackson, but it's mostly in the sense of going from the known to the unknown. Jackson, as we'll discuss in a bit, has only minimal experience as a feature back dating back to his time at Nebraska. But I put in a call to Matt Williamson, one of our Scouts Inc. personnel evaluators, and what he said made a lot of sense.

"It's definitely a big drop-off," Williamson said, "but I also think this is such a running-back friendly offense because of the passing game they have. You don't need a great player there, and I don't even think Grant was a great player. He's a good runner who is quick to get downhill and very reliable, and those things are more than enough to be excellent in their offense."

Remember, the Packers went through two other feature backs -- Jackson and DeShawn Wynn -- before settling on Grant as their primary runner in 2007. Jackson will get the first shot at this job, but it doesn't mean he is the only option the Packers will have all season.

The biggest question is whether Jackson can, as Williamson said, "handle the punishment of being a feature back." He spent only nine games of his college career as Nebraska's primary ball carrier and has been an oft-injured reserve for three seasons in Green Bay.

"I would worry about him over the long term because we haven't seen him do it," Williamson said. "Over time, he's really been productive at no level. But for the short term, I think they can be nearly as potent as an offense. I would worry about short-yardage situations where everyone knows the run is coming, but this is still a really good offense without Ryan Grant."

Perhaps the biggest issue here is the thin depth the Packers entered the season with. With only two tailbacks on the active roster, they might have to use fullback John Kuhn in that role. Nance, meanwhile, is a 219-pound, between-the-tackles bruiser who I presume will fill the No. 3 role that would have gone to Kregg Lumpkin had the Packers not tried to slip him through waivers earlier this month.

Jackson's lack of history in this role, as well as the Packers' depth situation, could make for a musical chairs approach to filling Grant's job. But if you listen to Williamson, the standards don't need to be high for doing so.

Some NFC North teams will continue tweaking their rosters over the next 24 hours, but for the most part, what you see is what you're going to get for Week 1 games. In that vein, let's take a look at some random but interesting (to me) trends we're seeing. Some of the observations are mine, and I've given credit to those who came up with the others:

1. Of the 53 players on the Bears' roster, only 23 of them were drafted by the team over the past seven years. Seven drafts should form the foundation of any team, but for the Bears it represents only 43 percent of the roster. (Source: Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
2. The Bears did bring back 2009 draft pick Juaquin Iglesias to the practice squad. The same could not be said for defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert.
3. The Green Bay Packers have more fullbacks (three) than tailbacks (two) on their roster. I can only assume that John Kuhn, Korey Hall and Quinn Johnson will participate heavily in special teams. The Packers had hoped to bring back Kregg Lumpkin on their practice squad to serve as a quasi-No. 3 runner, but Lumpkin was claimed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
[+] Enlarge
Andrew Weber/US PresswireSafety Louis Delmas is the only Lions defensive back who was on the roster last season.
4. By reaching an injury settlement with Will Blackmon and releasing Jason Chery, the Packers left themselves with no obvious kick returners. If that's their biggest problem, I'm not too worried about it. But in the short term, it looks like Jordy Nelson or possibly Brandon Jackson could fill the role. *Update: Coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that Tramon Williams and Greg Jennings are options at punt returner.
5. The Detroit Lions have turned over their entire secondary with the exception of safety Louis Delmas. Every other defensive back is new to the team this year. (Source: Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.)
6. To put a bow on a couple of trades: The Minnesota Vikings received a 2011 fifth-round pick and a conditional 2012 seventh-round draft pick from the New York Giants in return for quarterback Sage Rosenfels and kick returner Darius Reynaud. Meanwhile, the Lions and Denver Broncos exchanged undisclosed draft 2011 picks to complete the Alphonso Smith-Dan Gronkowski trade.
7. In announcing their waiver claim of former Green Bay tight end/linebacker Spencer Havner, the Lions listed him as a linebacker. That makes perfect sense considering the Lions' strong depth at tight end and thin situation at linebacker.
8. The Lions currently have five players listed as cornerbacks on their roster: Smith, Chris Houston, Jonathan Wade, Aaron Berry and Amari Spievey. But Spievey has been working at safety the past few weeks, and Berry is a rookie who missed much of training camp because of a hamstring pull. Your guess is as good as mine right now about who will fill the nickel and dime roles.
9. The Vikings are in a similar situation. They have three cornerbacks on their active roster, and even if they bring someone in over the next day or so, it's hard to imagine him participating Thursday night at New Orleans. You figure Antoine Winfield, Lito Sheppard and Asher Allen will make up the nickel package. But who will the Vikings play if they need a sixth defensive back? At this point, it will have to be one of their backup safeties.

If the Green Bay Packers are planning any significant player moves before resuming practice this week, it won't be through the initial waiver process. Packers general manager Ted Thompson said Sunday during a news conference that the team did not put in a claim after NFL teams cut down their rosters to 53 Saturday.

The Packers did have a number of their cuts claimed by other teams, however, and there has been a good level of activity in and around all four NFC North teams Sunday. I'll keep a running list on this post of the most significant players involved:

• Ex-Packers running back Kregg Lumpkin was claimed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Packers had hoped to bring him back on the practice squad to be their quasi-No. 3 tailback. Last year, the Packers lost tailback Tyrell Sutton to the Carolina Panthers in the same way.
• As we discussed earlier, the Detroit Lions claimed ex-Packers tight end Spencer Havner. Of cutting Havner and keeping four other tight ends, Thompson said: "It was a very tough call, as it was with all of our guys. Spencer has played well for us. I think it is more a reflection of the play of the other four fellas that we have. We think they played very, very well and you have to get down to 53. Not an easy call at all."
• Ex-Lions defensive tackle Landon Cohen was claimed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. I think that speaks to the depth the Lions have created at the position. They were forced to make what qualified as a difficult cut.
• The Lions released receiver Dennis Northcutt, possibly to make room for Havner, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Northcutt had been earmarked as the Lions' punt returner, meaning Derrick Williams could take over that role in Week 1.
• Ex-Chicago Bears linebacker/special-teams ace Tim Shaw was claimed by the Tennessee Titans. General manager Jerry Angelo said Saturday that Shaw was released because the team thought linebacker Brian Iwuh would give it a better look at linebacker if the Bears needed him to play.
• Ex-Bears quarterback Dan LeFevour was claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals. LeFevour didn't show much this summer to indicate he will develop into a starting-caliber quarterback, but the Bengals proved how difficult it is to move any young quarterback through waivers.
• As we discussed Saturday, Minnesota Vikings fans need to cut back on the T.J. Houshmandzadeh hysteria. Coach Brad Childress said Sunday that he's not interested in adding Houshmandzadeh "right now." If anything, Childress said he would like to add a younger receiver. For now, however, two of his receivers are likely to be his primary returners -- Percy Harvin on kickoffs and Bernard Berrian or Greg Camarillo on punt returns.
• *Update: The Lions released linebacker Rocky Boiman to make room for kick returner Stefan Logan, whom they claimed earlier in the day. That must mean they're awfully confident that middle linebacker DeAndre Levy (groin) will be ready for the Sept. 12 opener against the Chicago Bears.

In lieu of our usual Black and Blue All Over format, we'll put a bow on Week 4 of the preseason on this fine Friday morning:

Cleveland Browns 13, Chicago Bears 10
Preseason record: 0-4
Of interest: The Bears finished the preseason winless for the first time since 1998 and only the second time in the past 33 years. Their offense scored 46 points, their special teams got three punts and a field goal blocked and their defense was almost unrecognizable from its heyday. Good thing the preseason doesn't matter, huh? Thursday night, the defense recovered a fumbled snap on its first play but then went on to allow Cleveland starter Colt McCoy to complete all 13 of his passes for 131 yards. If anything positive emerged, it was that veteran quarterback Todd Collins has caught up enough to be Jay Cutler's Week 1 backup. Collins started in place of Cutler and completed 10 of 15 passes for 139 yards, including a 15-yard scoring strike to tight end Greg Olsen.
Local coverage: Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said there has been some "frustration" but "it's not like we're defeatist," reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times on the Bears' pass defense this preseason: "Outside of poor pass protection, the most alarming trend has been the poor play of a battered secondary that has served up a steady diet of cushion coverage and nondescript play." Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com thinks linebacker Brian Iwuh is solid insurance behind Lance Briggs. Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com: "But is there enough time? And can they flip the proverbial switch?"
Next: Sept. 12 vs. Detroit Lions*

Detroit Lions 28, Buffalo Bills 23
Preseason record: 3-1
Of interest: A majority of first-team players started the game, including quarterback Matthew Stafford. But Stafford threw his worst pass of the preseason on the third play, a telegraphed sideline pass to receiver Calvin Johnson that Drayton Florence intercepted and returned 40 yards for a touchdown. The Lions were down 16-0 in this game before No. 3 quarterback Drew Stanton led a fourth-quarter rally. Of the Lions' bubble players, I thought running back DeDe Dorsey made two plays that will make him a difficult cut. The first was a 25-yard scoring scamper off a short pass from Stanton in the third quarter; the second was a difficult 34-yard reception along the sideline in the fourth quarter.
Local coverage: Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press has seen enough to write: "For the first time in at least three years, the Lions have actual, genuine strengths. ... There are still too many holes to expect greatness, or even goodness, but they have an excellent chance at OKness." Dorsey could still be a victim of the numbers game, writes Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News. The true quality of the Lions' secondary is unknown because of so many preseason injuries, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com. Safeties Louis Delmas and C.C. Brown both sat out Thursday night, while cornerback Jonathan Wade played with a cast on his hand.
Next: Sept. 12 at Chicago Bears*

Kansas City Chiefs 17, Green Bay Packers 13
Preseason record: 2-2
Of interest: In a bit of a surprise, Packers coach Mike McCarthy sat a number of key veterans, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and removed the rest of his starters after one series. The move helped the Chiefs win their first preseason game in two years. Backup quarterback Matt Flynn started in Rodgers' place and threw for 304 yards, although I'm still trying to figure out how his 77-yard pass to a wide-open Brett Swain didn't go for a touchdown; probably a combination of a short throw and Swain's less-than-devastating speed. The Packers worked tailback Kregg Lumpkin hard (11 carries, 36 yards) to give him a final chance to make the roster. Kick returner Jason Chery probably didn't win much confidence after a fumble and no returns longer than 17 yards.
Local coverage: Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel thought Swain and Lumpkin "looked the most like NFLers among a medley of soon-to-be practice squad and indoor football players Thursday night at New Arrowhead Stadium." The Packers are entertaining trade offers for offensive lineman Jason Spitz, the Journal Sentinel reports. Chery "probably did just enough to stay in contention for a roster spot, depending in part on the shaky health of Will Blackmon," reports Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Long-snapper Brett Goode's departure after a big hit left it difficult to measure the Packers' punting competition, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
Next: Sept. 12 at Philadelphia Eagles*

Minnesota Vikings 31, Denver Broncos 24
Preseason record: 3-1
Of interest: The Vikings started 20 backups, including quarterback Tarvaris Jackson -- who concluded a worrisome preseason with a terrible outing. His accuracy-challenged 2-for-8 performance brought his preseason numbers to 12-of-26 for 60 yards. No. 3 quarterback Sage Rosenfels didn’t do much better, completing 1 of 4 passes, but you have to wonder how coach Brad Childress remains so committed to Jackson. Brett Favre hasn’t missed a start in 19 previous seasons, but there have been occasions when he’s left competitive games due to injury. At this point, would you trust Jackson even for a half? Rookie Joe Webb continued to show raw potential, dashing 41 yards against a blitz on one play and tossing a 63-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Javon Walker. With two touchdowns in two preseason appearances, you wonder if Walker hasn’t made the team.
Local coverage: Jackson was booed off the field by the Metrodome crowd, reports Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. But Childress said Jackson will remain the No. 2 quarterback “as it stands right now.” Cornerback Lito Sheppard said “I don't see why not” when asked if he will be a Week 1 starter, writes Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune. Safety Tyrell Johnson took advantage of extended playing time to likely win the strong safety job, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
Next: Thursday at New Orleans Saints*

*And it counts!

In case you hadn’t heard, the Green Bay Packers will host the Indianapolis Colts for the Super Bowl championship -- er, preseason Week 3 bragging rights -- Thursday night on ESPN. Let’s set up the game for you:

Location: Lambeau Field

Date/Time: Thursday, 8 p.m. ET

Personnel notes: Starters are expected to play at least a half and possibly into the third quarter. The Packers won’t have linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring), and it’s possible that linebacker Brad Jones (shoulder), defensive end Cullen Jenkins (calf) and running back Kregg Lumpkin (hamstring) could also be sidelined. The status of receiver Greg Jennings (back spasms) is also uncertain.

Focal point: On a preseason scale, the Packers are taking this game seriously. Coach Mike McCarthy said the Colts “will be an excellent competition for us.” He added: “We want to come out and play to our standard. Play well at home and just all of the basic things you want to accomplish in Week 3 of the preseason.” More than anything, the Colts will offer a stiff measuring stick on the state of the Packers’ pass defense. Quarterback Peyton Manning and his offensive juggernaut will play into the third quarter, according to the Indianapolis Star. As we’ve discussed before, we’re not expecting the Packers to stop the elite quarterbacks they face; just slow them down a bit. It will be tough to get an exact gauge with Matthews and possibly Jenkins on the sideline, but a few stops should help from a confidence standpoint, if nothing else. ESPN’s Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will have the call. In the video below, Jaworski explains how he thinks the Packers’ passing game can improve in 2010.

Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of preseason Week 2? Your NFC North blogger knows …

Chicago Bears
Opponent: Oakland Raiders
Location: Soldier Field
Date/Time: Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET
Personnel notes: Starters are expected to play into the second quarter. Those who won’t play include receiver Earl Bennett (hamstring), safety Major Wright (finger), quarterback Caleb Hanie (shoulder), safety Craig Steltz (ankle), and possibly long-snapper Patrick Mannelly (stinger). Tight end Desmond Clark would handle Mannelly’s long-snapping duties if necessary.
Focal point: Normally, established starting quarterbacks don’t need -- or want -- much preseason work. I’m thinking that’s not the case for Jay Cutler, who is still learning an intricate new offense. I’d like to see Cutler make much more than the two passes he threw in the preseason opener in San Diego. Let’s see how comfortable he is throwing to receivers other than Johnny Knox, and whether he’ll react better to pressure than he did last season.

Detroit Lions
Opponent: Denver Broncos
Date/Time: Saturday, 9 p.m. ET
Personnel notes: Starters could play into the second quarter. Safety Louis Delmas (groin) has said he would like to play, but the Lions might not take that risk. The same goes for tight end Brandon Pettigrew (knee) and running back Kevin Smith (knee). Cornerback Jonathan Wade (finger) won’t play. Middle linebacker DeAndre Levy (back) is expected to make his preseason debut.
Focal point: Coach Jim Schwartz said this week that there will be a big emphasis on evaluating special teams, including return men. “Kickoff and punt return, I think we’re going to need to really do a good job of putting guys in positions and maybe creating some positions to put them in and things like that, and just see how they do,” Schwartz said. “That’s going to be a big part of the evaluation of a lot of these guys.”

Green Bay Packers
Opponent: Seattle Seahawks
Location: Qwest Field
Date/Time: Saturday, 10 p.m. ET
Personnel notes: Starters will play about the same as they did last weekend, or about 20 plays. Among those who could be sidelined are linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring), safety Will Blackmon (knee) and running back Kregg Lumpkin (hamstring.)
Focal point: Sorry. It’s unlikely the Packers will spice up their defensive looks in response to last week’s soft performance against the Cleveland Browns. “I think it’s important not to rely too much on scheme and really stay focused on the fundamentals,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “Last year was a totally different mindset for us because we were going from a totally different defensive scheme to more of a pressure scheme. It wasn’t the schematic volume that was important in preseason, it was the ability to play pressure football in live game. That’s why we pressured as much as we did last year. It wasn’t as much as the different schemes we were trying to play against the preseason opponents as to develop that mindset, that speed, to get the pressure off the ground. The volume for this game, we’re more focused on how we’re playing specifically, the details we’re playing with within the schemes.”

Minnesota Vikings
Opponent: San Francisco 49ers
Location: Candlestick Park
Date/Time: Sunday, 8 p.m. ET
Personnel notes: Starters will play at least the first quarter, with quarterback Brett Favre taking the first series or two before yielding to Tarvaris Jackson. Middle linebacker E.J. Henderson will start for the first time since fracturing his left femur last December. Players who won’t participate include center John Sullivan and receivers Sidney Rice (hip) and Percy Harvin (migraines).
Focal point: In some ways, the Vikings began training camp Wednesday when they finally got Favre on the field. But with Rice, Harvin and Sullivan still sidelined, their offense represents a work in progress. I’m guessing Favre wants to get a few throws in and then get the heck off the field.

Occasionally, a preseason injury -- or even a scare -- can cast light on a depth concern we haven't previously addressed. I thought a number of those situations jumped out in the NFC North's first preseason weekend, so let's take them one a time.

(Before anyone gets all worked up, I didn't include the Minnesota Vikings in this post because they didn't suffer any significant injuries or scares Saturday night at St. Louis. After all, they were already without nearly a dozen starters and other prominent players.)

Chicago Bears
Position: Quarterback
The injury: No. 2 quarterback Caleb Hanie suffered a right shoulder injury and had his arm in a sling Saturday night. His status is uncertain.
What it revealed: Other than Hanie, the Bears have no one on their roster they should feel comfortable with as a backup to starter Jay Cutler. Because of the complexity of his offense, coordinator Mike Martz has been limiting quarterback repetitions to Cutler and Hanie for most of camp. Rookie Dan LeFevour has gotten little work. If Hanie is sidelined for an extensive period of time, the Bears might have to seek a veteran with familiarity in Martz's scheme.

Detroit Lions
Position: Linebacker
The injury: Middle linebacker Jordon Dizon suffered what is believed to be a season-ending knee injury.
What it revealed: Presumed starter DeAndre Levy has missed most of training camp because of a back injury, and Dizon had recently replaced Vinny Ciurciu as the top backup. Dizon, in fact, started Saturday night at Pittsburgh. It's pretty clear the Lions don't have another player they trust with the position until Levy returns.

Green Bay Packers
Position: Running back
The injury: Tailback Ryan Grant stumbled off the field with a head injury after his third carry. The injury is believed to be minor.
What it revealed: Grant hasn't missed a game since the Packers made him their full-time starter midway through the 2007 season, and the Packers clearly are counting on him exclusively. Their official depth chart lists Brandon Jackson as their backup and Kregg Lumpkin as the No. 3 tailback. Rookie James Starks, a sixth-round draft choice, remains on the physically unable to perform list. The Packers have continued their annual pump-up of Jackson, but to this point he remains a career backup. Consider it this way: How much different would the Packers' offense be without Grant?

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Green Bay’s eight-man practice squad includes quarterback Brian Brohm, who will get more time to develop after his unexpected release Saturday. Suffice it to say, none of the other 31 NFL teams thought enough of Brohm to claim him on waivers. So for the immediate future, it appears the Packers will go with only two quarterbacks -- Aaron Rodgers and Matt Flynn -- on their active roster.

Speaking to reporters in Green Bay, general manager Ted Thompson said "nobody has given up on anybody" and said he is not in the market to acquire another quarterback.

Meanwhile, Green Bay lost rookie tailback Tyrell Sutton to Carolina but did get second-year tailback Kregg Lumpkin onto their practice squad. Sutton was released in part because the Packers decided to keep three fullbacks on their roster.

Thompson: "It's a little bit unusual but we felt like there was value in all of those guys. Korey [Hall] and John [Kuhn], who have been with us, are excellent special-teams players, good fullbacks, and we think Quinn Johnson has the ability to be a special player. Again, that cost roster spots in other areas that wouldn't normally happen but we felt like it was worth it."

Along with Brohm and Lumpkin, here is the remainder of the Packers’ practice squad:

• Receiver Jake Allen
• Cornerback Trevor Ford
• Linebacker Cyril Obiozor
• Tackle Jamon Meredith
• Defensive end Ronald Talley
• Nose tackle Anthony Toribio

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Check here for a full list of Green Bay’s player moves.

Biggest surprise: Brian Brohm was the 56th player taken in the 2008 draft, the third quarterback overall. For that reason alone it’s a shock the Packers have given up on him so quickly, despite another shaky preseason in which he finished with a passer rating of 54.5. He made some incremental progress this summer, and it’s possible the Packers will re-sign him to their practice squad Sunday. But it’s clear they were willing to risk losing him altogether. It’s a stunning fall for a player the Packers originally thought was polished and ready to immediately step in as the No. 2 quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers.

Second-biggest surprise: The Packers kept all three of their fullbacks while leaving their tailback depth pretty thin, at least for now. Fullbacks Korey Hall and John Kuhn are good special teams players, but doesn’t one make the other expendable? The Packers obviously don’t agree. They kept both players -- along with rookie fullback Quinn Johnson -- while waiving tailbacks Tyrell Sutton and Kregg Lumpkin. The decisions leave DeShawn Wynn as the only healthy backup behind starter Ryan Grant. (Brandon Jackson is recovering from an ankle injury.)

Third-biggest surprise: Veteran receiver Ruvell Martin was released in favor of first-year receiver Brett Swain. I’m guessing this was a special teams decision, as Swain was having some success on coverage teams this summer. But Martin has been a productive reserve over the past three seasons, and I didn’t hear too much about his roster spot being in jeopardy.

Fourth-biggest surprise: Safety Anthony Smith, signed to a free agent contract this offseason, was released. There have been suggestions he was pushing starter Atari Bigby. Not anymore. Neither of general manager Ted Thompson's veteran free agent pickups, Smith and center Duke Preston, made the final roster.

No-brainer: Placing defensive lineman Justin Harrell (back) on injured reserve was dramatic but needed to be done. The Packers have carried him on their 53-man roster for the past two years even though he has missed more games (19) than he has played in (13) because of various injuries. He wouldn’t have made it to training camp this year if he weren’t a first-round draft pick. It was time for the Packers to cut their losses.

What’s next: One way or the other, the Packers will have to address their quarterback depth. It might simply mean adding Brohm or a waiver claim to the practice squad. But it’s also possible the Packers will look elsewhere for depth behind Rodgers. In news reports, they have been linked to Tampa Bay’s Luke McCown; but it will likely take a draft pick to pry him away from the Buccaneers. Backup Matt Flynn has been limited by a shoulder injury, so from the outside it would seem risky to enter the season with Rodgers and Flynn as the only active quarterbacks.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

By the looks of it, I missed a pretty entertaining practice in Green Bay by one day. I'm scheduled to arrive there Wednesday and attend Thursday's practice. But Tuesday evening's affair was highlighted by a series of fights and intensity that left experienced observers rolling through their mental files.

Longtime Green Bay Press-Gazette reporter Rob Demovsky called it "perhaps the most spirited Packers training camp practice in more than a decade." Fights included multiple matchups between linebacker Desmond Bishop and center Jason Spitz. Coach Mike McCarthy stopped practice to chastise players for hitting after the whistle, but another brawl soon erupted after linebacker Brady Poppinga hit running back Kregg Lumpkin.

McCarthy: "I'll say this, and I probably shouldn't say it, but we were 6-10 last year, and we didn't have a ... fight all of training camp. So, I guess we're off to a hell of a start."

I can attest to the relatively tame camp the Packers had last year. Fights on their own don't help build a team, but the intensity and aggressiveness that leads up to them can be habit-forming.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Packers are concerned about defensive tackle B.J. Raji's conditioning while he remains unsigned, Demovsky writes.
• The Packers gave Spitz permission to gain weight in the offseason so he would be better equipped to handle Minnesota defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Chicago tailback Kevin Jones on his training camp: "I feel real good, most of all because I am healthy." Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times explores Jones' possible role this season.
• Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher: "I'm back." Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune examines what that means. Among the issues: Urlacher is back to his pre-2008 weight of 258 pounds.
• Detroit defensive tackle Grady Jackson on missing the offseason and the early part of training camp for health reasons: "It's just being smart. You just can't overwork yourself." Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press explains.
• Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said quarterback Matthew Stafford doesn't look like a rookie to him, writes John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• The NFL has asked Minnesota to make some adjustments to the contract of receiver Percy Harvin, according to Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The issue is not expected to keep Harvin off the practice field.
• Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson is displaying more leadership and personality in training camp, writes Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

	AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
	Quarterback Jay Cutler and the Bears will need a young receiver to step up in camp.

Chicago Bears
Training camp site: Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais, Ill.)

Campfires
The only Bears receiver with a guaranteed job is Devin Hester. Otherwise, the position is wide open. Veterans Earl Bennett and Rashied Davis will compete with rookies Juaquin Iglesias and Johnny Knox for the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 receiver positions. If general manager Jerry Angelo doesn't like what he sees, the Bears could pursue a proven veteran later this summer.

The free safety position is also wide open as the Bears replace the departed Mike Brown. Craig Steltz ended spring practice atop the depth chart, but he'll have to battle converted cornerback Corey Graham. Former New Orleans starter Josh Bullocks is also on the roster as a third, if distant, option.

Although the Bears hope it never matters, they'll have to sort out their depth behind new quarterback Jay Cutler. Unproven Caleb Hanie is set to battle free agent Brett Basanez in a competition that, like receiver, could ultimately give way to a veteran from outside the organization. Hanie, however, is a favorite of coach Lovie Smith and will get every opportunity to win the job.

Camp will be a downer if ...
... the Bears realize this summer that they haven't given Cutler enough weapons. While young players don't always develop on a convenient timetable, it should be pretty clear by mid-August if the Bears have enough mature depth at the receiver position. Adding a veteran at the end of the summer is an imperfect solution and would limit his chances to develop a rapport with the new quarterback.

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The best-case scenario is if Bennett can parlay his familiarity with Cutler -- they were college teammates at Vanderbilt -- into a quick claim on the No. 2 job. That would lessen the pressure on the rookies and relieve the need to rely on Davis, who isn't a starting-caliber receiver. But if Bennett stumbles, the domino effect could significantly diminish the Bears' passing attack early in the season.

Camp will be a success if ...
... Smith can lay the groundwork for a revived defense. Smith has taken over as the de facto defensive coordinator and will call most defensive signals during games. He'll need to restore the Bears' core values -- producing a pass rush with the front four and making big plays in the secondary -- in order to meet the standard his defenses set earlier this decade.

It might be difficult to judge the success of this venture during camp and even in the preseason; Smith isn't likely to give away too much from a schematic standpoint before the regular season begins. But make no mistake: The origin of any improvement must come during technique and drill work in training camp.

O-verhaul
Quietly, the Bears shook up 60 percent of their offensive line this offseason. Center Olin Kreutz and right guard Roberto Garza are the only returning starters. Chicago is hoping that left tackle Orlando Pace, left guard Frank Omiyale and right tackle Chris Williams can breathe some life into a group that grew stale last season.

Pace is the short-term key. Injuries have caused him to miss 25 games over the past three seasons. His health and conditioning will be monitored carefully in training camp. It will be interesting to see if the Bears also work Williams at left tackle -- his natural position -- as a contingency should Pace suffer another injury.

---

Detroit Lions
Training camp site: Team facility in Allen Park, Mich.

	Rashaun Rucker/zuma/Icon SMI
	The Lions would like Daunte Culpepper to earn the starting quarterback job ahead of Matthew Stafford to start the season.

Campfires
No Black and Blue battle will be more scrutinized than the competition between Lions quarterbacks Daunte Culpepper and Matthew Stafford. Conventional wisdom suggests Culpepper will win the job as long as he maintains his offseason conditioning level. But coach Jim Schwartz has said Stafford will start as soon as he meets two criteria: when he is ready and when he surpasses Culpepper as the team's best option.

Stafford's status as an underclassman suggests he faces a steep learning curve this season. That, along with Culpepper's familiarity with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan's scheme, imposes a two-pronged challenge for Stafford to win the job in training camp.

Another rookie, safety Louis Delmas, appears to be one of the few locks to start in the secondary. You would assume Phillip Buchanon will win one cornerback spot, but the other two starting roles seem wide open.

Anthony Henry could start at cornerback, or he could move to safety. Other safety candidates include Daniel Bullocks, Marquand Manuel, Kalvin Pearson and Stuart Schweigert. The competition will be wide open as the Lions look for defensive backs who are aggressive and eager for contact.

Camp will be a downer if ...
... every player on the roster suffers a season-ending injury on the first day of camp. Otherwise, there is nowhere to go but up for a team that went 0-16 last season.

Seriously, there is one position where Detroit is keeping its fingers crossed. The Lions signed 36-year-old nose tackle Grady Jackson to help tighten their run defense and also keep offensive linemen off their talented trio of linebackers. But Jackson missed all of spring practice after undergoing knee surgery in February. Jackson is as important as any player the Lions acquired this winter and he needs to get at least some practice time in training camp to ensure he will be ready for the season.

Camp will be a success if ...
... Culpepper can win the job outright, rather than become the starter simply because Stafford isn't ready. If Culpepper can recapture some of his previous magic with Linehan, the Lions will have a much better chance to be credible in Schwartz's first season.

And despite the protestations of modern-day thinkers, Stafford can only benefit from some time on the sidelines. That doesn't mean he should sit for three years. But rare is the quarterback who can start -- and succeed -- on day one. A rejuvenated Culpepper is the first step in the Lions' rebuilding project.

Linebacker city
Through trade and free agency, the Lions have put together a competent group of linebackers in Julian Peterson, Larry Foote and Ernie Sims. It will be interesting to watch defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham experiment with ways to utilize their playmaking skills.

Cunningham has said he plans to blitz 40 percent of the time this season. Peterson could make some big plays if he has maintained the athletic skills of his prime. The same goes for Foote. We'll get a good idea of how much each player has left in the tank this summer.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Many of you were miffed that I failed to address a question with Green Bay implications in this weekend's mailbag. My apologies. Nothing personal. Simmer down.

	Jeff Hanisch/US Presswire
	The Packers probably do not want to see Ryan Grant get over four-fifths of the team's carries again this season.

There actually is a Packers-centric topic I wanted to address, and lo and behold, Ross of Boston sent in a matching question:

Kevin, Am I the only one who smells a RB controversy/competition in Green Bay? Brandon Jackson is a healthy second round pick coming into his third year, and Grant is coming off a disappointing season... Any news?

Ross, I have a hard time believing the Packers will enter the season with anyone other than Ryan Grant as their No. 1 tailback. I do think it's reasonable to expect coach Mike McCarthy to spread the carries around a little more than last season.

Grant signed a four-year contract last summer worth $20 million and went on to take 83 percent of the 374 carries Green Bay gave to its running backs last season. Grant rushed 312 times, fourth-most in team history, while Jackson was next with 45.

Here's what McCarthy said last week on the topic:

[Grant] is the primary runner, so that's part of his job responsibility. But I think there's a lot of competition. I think Brandon Jackson did a lot of positive things for us last year with his opportunities. DeShawn Wynn jumped on the scene, had some production. Really, the way the season goes has as much to do with that as really the planning. You always plan to utilize all your players. [Kregg] Lumpkin is definitely a guy, he's making some noise, and I think everybody will be excited once the preseason games start to see him healthy and ready to go. To sit here in June and tell you the percentage of the carries of our running backs I don't think would be realistic. Ryan, there are some things he can do better and we're working on those things throughout the spring. He's done a great job. He's been a full-time member of the offseason program.

In some ways, the Packers will be pursuing the same goal that Chicago is hoping to achieve with tailback Matt Forte. Neither team is looking to replace its starter but would like to get more runners involved. Not only does it keep the starter fresh, but it provides an important change of pace to stretch out opposing defenses.

What does that mean in Green Bay? Providing he stays healthy, Grant will get the majority of carries. But in an ideal world, I bet the Packers would love to double the number of carries their No. 2 runner gets this season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy revealed an interesting nugget Monday after conducting the Packers' self-scouting exercise during the bye week.

In between caring for his newborn daughter, McCarthy spoke extensively with the team's medical staff about the rash of injuries during the first half of the season. There have been an especially high number of muscle strains, especially hamstrings, and McCarthy was looking for common threads.

(Tip of the cap to Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, who set us straight on the hamstring tally and corrected an earlier version of this post.)

A hamstring has sidelined safety Atari Bigby for five games and counting. A total of eight players have strained their hamstrings this seaso, a list that includes: left tackle Chad Clifton, defensive tackle Ryan Pickett and tailbacks tailback Ryan Grant and Kregg Lumpkin.

McCarthy said all of the injuries occurred in games, and as a result he's extended the Packers' pre- pre-game stretch from six to 10 minutes. The Packers also will increase the players' warm-up time before games and change the practice schedule to reflect both tweaks.

"It's continuing education really," McCarthy said, "just to make sure that we're getting our core temperature up, keeping it up, staying stretched."

McCarthy said he considers the changes a "minor adjustment," but they seem pretty significant as the weather turns cooler and increases the chances for muscle injuries. (Hence, the need to have a consistent core temperature.) McCarthy spent 15 minutes Monday speaking to players on the issue.

It's hard to know whether a few minutes of extra stretching and warm-ups will help, but at least McCarthy wasn't willing to accept the old-school excuse that injuries unavoidably happen in bunches. He's trying to fix the problem.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy offered several encouraging injury updates, as well as an explanation of an unexpected weekend roster move, Monday afternoon. Here are the highlights of McCarthy's news conference at Lambeau Field:

• Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett's triceps injury has been diagnosed as a strain. That means Pickett should return to play at some point this season. McCarthy wouldn't be pinned down on an exact timetable, as noted by Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. But the good news is that the injury isn't a full tear and won't end Pickett's season.
• Defensive tackle Justin Harrell will return to practice Wednesday after spending the first six weeks of the season on the physically unable to perform list. McCarthy hasn't decided whether Harrell will play Sunday against Indianapolis.
• A scan performed Monday showed "significant improvement" in the spleen of cornerback Al Harris, McCarthy said. It's "realistic" to believe Harris can play as early as Nov. 2 against Tennessee.
• Rookie running back Kregg Lumpkin re-injured his hamstring during practice last Thursday, prompting the decision to place him on injured reserve.