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Free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET

Chicago Bears

Key free agents: Tight end Kellen Davis, running back Matt Forte (franchise), cornerback Corey Graham, quarterback Caleb Hanie, defensive end Israel Idonije, cornerback Tim Jennings, quarterback Josh McCown, safety Brandon Meriweather and receiver Roy Williams.

Where they stand: The Bears will have the most salary-cap space among NFC North teams, upwards of $30 million, and have plenty of potential uses for it. Quarterback Jay Cutler needs more targets in the downfield passing game, whether it's at the receiver or tight end position. And new general manager Phil Emery must start restocking a defense led by four players more than 30 years old: Linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, defensive end Julius Peppers and cornerback Charles Tillman.

What to expect: It's widely believed the Bears will be in the running for free-agent receiver Vincent Jackson. But Jackson's price tag could be steep and no one knows if Emery will prove to be a big spender. It seems likely he will re-sign Davis, and Emery should also save some of his cap space to extend Forte's contract. Secondary receiver targets could include Marques Colston. Bears fans are hoping the team will pursue defensive end Mario Williams, but it's hard to imagine the Bears budgeting for Williams two years after breaking their bank on Peppers.

Detroit Lions

Key free agents: Defensive end Cliff Avril (franchise), left tackle Jeff Backus, safety Chris Harris, quarterback Shaun Hill, linebacker DeAndre Levy (restricted), running back Maurice Morris, running back Kevin Smith, quarterback Drew Stanton, linebacker Stephen Tulloch and cornerback Eric Wright.

Where they stand: The Lions are tight against the salary cap after franchising Avril and aren't likely to be big spenders on the free-agent market. They could relieve the situation by reaching long-term agreements with Avril and/or receiver Calvin Johnson, who has a $22 million cap figure for 2012. Tulloch made a big impact last season after signing a one-year deal, but so far the Lions' attention has turned elsewhere.

What to expect: The Lions' best-case scenario is to keep their 2011 core together without mortgaging their future relative to the salary cap. That would mean getting Tulloch re-signed to preserve the linebacker group they upgraded last season by signing him and veteran Justin Durant, moves that allowed Levy to play on the outside. Hill seems likely to re-sign as Matthew Stafford's backup, while Stanton might test the free-agent waters to see if he has a chance to do better than third on a team's depth chart.

Green Bay Packers

Key free agents: Cornerback Jarrett Bush, quarterback Matt Flynn, running back Ryan Grant and center Scott Wells.

Where they stand: The Packers took care of a big challenge by signing tight end Jermichael Finley to a two-year contract last month. They will let Flynn depart for a possible starting job elsewhere and it appears Grant will test the free-agent market. Discussions with Wells haven't led to an agreement, but the Packers often go to the final moments before reaching a deal. There are no obvious internal replacements for Wells, making his return a priority.

What to expect: The Packers will have some flexibility with the salary cap, but general manager Ted Thompson's aversion to veteran free agency is well known. It's been three years since he signed a veteran unrestricted free agent in the offseason. The Packers have needs at defensive line, outside linebacker and possibly at center if Wells leaves. But let's put it this way: Thompson's strong preference is to find depth and future replacements in the draft, not on other teams' rosters.

Minnesota Vikings

Key free agents: Safety Husain Abdullah, receiver Devin Aromashodu, receiver Greg Camarillo, defensive lineman Fred Evans, defensive lineman Letroy Guion, linebacker E.J. Henderson, linebacker Erin Henderson, safety Tyrell Johnson, quarterback Sage Rosenfels, cornerback Benny Sapp and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.

Where they stand: The Vikings seem poised for a major roster overhaul in their first offseason since Rick Spielman was promoted to general manager. Players like Shiancoe, E.J. Henderson, Camarillo and Johnson all seem poised to move on. There aren't many positions on the team that appear secure.

What to expect: If the Vikings don't plan to draft USC left tackle Matt Kalil at No. 3 overall next month, the first clue will be if they pursue a free-agent left tackle. That seems unlikely. But they'll need to combine their draft with at least a few veteran free agents if they intend to compete for a playoff spot in 2012. Cornerback could be a point of focus, where Brandon Carr and Cortland Finnegan are among those available. Another could be receiver. The Vikings had major interest in Jackson two years ago.

After the Detroit Lions' 38-10 victory over the San Diego Chargers, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertFollowing their big win against the Chargers, the Lions take a seat in the examination room.
1. What the Lions have done this season might seem to be a standard expectation for every NFL team, but it is exceptional relative to the Lions' history. You already know they have earned their first playoff berth in 12 years. The 2011 season also brought the Lions' first 10-win season in 16 years and only the eighth 10-win season since the franchise moved to Detroit in 1934. If the Lions defeat the Packers next Sunday, it will be their first season of at least 11 victories since 1991 and only the third since the Detroit relocation. Coach Jim Schwartz has spoken often about getting the team to a point where accomplishments are expected rather than celebrated. But I'm sure you realize how unique this season has been.
2. I don't think there's any question the Lions should be pushing for a No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs, allowing them to bypass a wild-card trip to the Superdome to play the New Orleans Saints and instead leaving them to play at the winner of the NFC East (either the Dallas Cowboys or New York Giants.) The Saints are undefeated at home this season, handed the Lions a 14-point loss there earlier this month and have the NFL's hottest quarterback in Drew Brees. At the bottom of this post is an updated version of the chart we introduced early Sunday morning. There are now eight relevant final-week scenarios for the Lions. As you can see, the No. 5 seed is not a lock, win or lose Sunday at Lambeau Field. But the Lions can only do their part, and that is doing their best to win Sunday. They should be motivated and feel great incentive to beat the Packers, who might rest at least some of their key starters.
3. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has pretty much cleared the single-season passing records for Lions history. We laid out the parameters earlier this month, and Stafford has eclipsed most of them. With a week left to play, he has set new records for completions (385), attempts (604), yards (4,518) and touchdowns (36). If he maintains a completion percentage above 63.28, he'll set that record as well. His percentage currently stands at 63.74. The one unattainable record: Dave Krieg's mark of a 101.7 passer rating. Stafford is at 96.6. Regardless, I think the football world is now fully aware of what we've been discussing for months: Stafford is one of the NFL's top quarterbacks.

And here is one issue I still don't get:

This isn't a new topic around here, but I'm still not sure how significant it is that the Lions haven't had a productive running game this season. Saturday, running backs Kevin Smith and Maurice Morris combined for 71 yards on 20 carries, and through 16 weeks the Lions have the fourth-lowest total of rushing yards in the NFL (1,423). They also have the second-fewest attempts (341). So part of me thinks their running game should be written off as a smart afterthought considering how explosive their passing game is. But you also wonder whether they'll be hampered in the playoffs -- potentially in cold and/or foul weather sites in New York, Green Bay or San Francisco -- by being so invested in the passing game. The Lions know that in an ideal world they would benefit from balance, or else they wouldn't have spent high draft choices on Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure in the past two years. They've adjusted without it, and they'll have to hope they can carry that formula into the playoffs.

After the Detroit Lions' 27-15 loss to the Green Bay Packers, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. Kevin SeifertAfter falling to 7-4 following a loss to the Packers, the Lions take their turn in the examination room.
   Lost in the discussion over Ndamukong Suh's third-quarter ejection was how critical the accompanying penalty and his subsequent absence was. You almost forget that the Lions had stopped the Packers on third-and-3 at their 3-yard line. The Packers probably would have set up to kick a short field goal in hopes of taking a 10-0 lead. Instead, they got another set of downs and ultimately scored a touchdown on John Kuhn's 1-yard run. The penalty cost the Lions four points, and it also opened the floodgates for the Packers' offense. In the end, they scored 20 points with Suh off the field. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 10 of 15 passes when Suh was in the game. Afterward, he hit on seven of nine and averaged 16.9 yards per attempt. According to ESPN Stats & Information, all seven of those completions came against the Lions' four-man pass rush, one obviously watered down without Suh.
2. As fallout from the Suh incident continues, it's probably only a matter of time that people start connecting Suh's style with the personality and approach of fiery coach Jim Schwartz. That's essentially what Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole wrote in the aftermath of Thursday's events. Cole made clear that Schwartz wouldn't encourage a player to do what Suh did Thursday. But, Cole wrote, "It's no surprise that Jim Schwartz's Detroit Lions are out of control" and added: "It's also not much of a surprise that the same coach who earlier this season stormed after San Francisco counterpart Jim Harbaugh is now watching his team's best player face a suspension for losing his cool." Schwartz's role in the incident with Harbaugh doesn't excuse Suh for his actions. But I agree with Cole in this sense: The coach sets a tone for his program. If the coach occasionally flies out of control, that's the example for decorum he has set for his players -- consciously or otherwise. The bottom line, according to ESPN Stats & Information, is that the Lions have had more personal fouls called against them since the start of Schwartz's tenure in 2009 than any other NFL team. Patterns always emerge over time.
3. It's amazing how central running back Kevin Smith became to the Lions offense in such a short time, and that's why the Lions are keeping their fingers crossed on further tests to his right ankle. Smith touched the ball on four of the Lions' first five plays and had 10 touches in just over a quarter of play. X-rays were negative on the injury, and Fox analyst Jimmy Johnson reported on air Thursday that the Lions believe Smith has a high ankle sprain. Starter Jahvid Best (concussion) was at the game, but there is no indication when or if he will return or if he will play again this season. The Lions will have to hope that their extended weekend will give Smith enough time to heal. It's obvious they deem him a preferable option over current incumbents Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams.

And here is one issue I still don't get:

How many defensive starters will the Lions have to replace for their nationally televised Dec. 4 game at the New Orleans Saints? It's quite possible Suh will be suspended. And the Lions finished Sunday's game with half of their secondary sidelined by injuries. Things got so thin that veteran Rashied Davis was pushed into emergency duty as a cornerback. Safety Louis Delmas (knee) and cornerback Chris Houston (knee) didn't return after their injuries, leaving Chris Harris and a combination of Aaron Berry and Brandon McDonald in their respective places. The Saints lead the NFL in total offense (436.9 yards per game) and are second in scoring (31.7).

DETROIT -- Add one more prominent name to the injury list in this Thanksgiving Feast.

Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith just left the bench on a cart after suffering a right leg injury early in the second quarter at Ford Field. Smith had been the Lions' primary source of offense to that point, carrying seven times for 36 yards and catching three passes for another 21 yards. Maurice Morris is now serving as the Lions' tailback.

Meanwhile, Lions safety Louis Delmas is standing on the sideline with a helmet on as if he wants to return to the game. Several members of the Lions' medical staff are standing next to him.

Tuesday's SportsNation chat brought us a confluence of Kevins:

Kevin (NYC)

from one kevin to another about a kevin....what's the deal with kevin smith? Will he start and what role will he play?

Kevin Seifert (2:19 PM)

He won't start and he'll at best be a role player in the beginning.

But there's no sense in letting my answer stand when a person with much better information addressed it shortly thereafter. Speaking to reporters after a bonus Tuesday practice, Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Smith didn't so much address a short-term need as he did prove that he is ready to resume his career during a workout last week.

"Kevin has long experience here with the Lions," Schwartz said. "[He's] very familiar with our system. But also we had a big workout last week, with an eye toward a lot of things we were talking about with the second half of the season, and you need to be prepared for a lot of different situations that come up. And honestly in his case, we hadn’t really planned on signing anybody, but Kevin looked so good. Ran well, moved well, was in great shape, and you know, has been a productive player for us when he’s been on the field and I think, one of the silver linings in this was it gave his body time to heal.

"He really impressed everyone and we sort of know what we have, again, when he’s healthy and he’s obviously in great shape."

In other words, Smith proved a ready-man contingency plan for a team that might or might not need one at his position. The Lions will get their best players on the field, and if Smith proves to be one of them, he'll play. In the meantime, I'm guessing he's the team's third back behind Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams while Jahvid Best recovers from a concussion.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Communication in the Green Bay Packers' secondary: It's true that Packers defensive backs made three of the most critical plays in Sunday's victory over the San Diego Chargers. Safety Charlie Peprah and cornerback Tramon Williams each returned interceptions for touchdowns, and Peprah added a second interception to clinch the game with 14 seconds remaining. But anyone who has watched the Packers' pass defense has seen a number of blown coverages in recent weeks, be it on Michael Jenkins' 72-yard reception for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7 or Vincent Jackson's 38-yard play Sunday for the Chargers. With each instance, we learn more about the value of injured safety Nick Collins, who has made most of the positioning calls for the Packers in recent seasons.

2. Clarity in the Detroit Lions' backfield: On several occasions, the Lions have downplayed their modest running game totals by noting how explosive they've been via the air. It's a fair point, and it's not worth obsessing over their running game as we move into the second half of the season. With that said, Monday's return of tailback Kevin Smith makes you wonder exactly what is in store for the backfield moving forward. Was it a sign that starter Jahvid Best's return is far from guaranteed? Is Smith just extra insurance for the people ahead of him, a list that includes Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams? Or are the Lions like the rest of us -- unsure where this is all headed -- and making sure they are fortified for each contingency?

3. High-mindedness in Minnesota: Sure, it sounded like a tough plan in theory for the Minnesota Vikings to release cornerback Chris Cook. He has been charged with a particularly infuriating crime, felony strangulation of his girlfriend, and the Vikings would have gotten a public relations boost in some areas had they cut their losses. But let's get real for a moment. Rare is the NFL team that will justify releasing a 24-year-old cornerback who was making substantial progress this season because of an untried legal issue. Cook's next court date isn't until Nov. 22. In the meantime, the Vikings have given Cook a paid vacation to get himself straight. I can't blame them.

RISING

1. Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears linebacker: There were plenty of heroes in the effort to limit Philadelphia Eagles stars Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson in Monday night's victory. Linebacker Lance Briggs, for one, played an inspired game. But Urlacher seemed to be running all over the field all night, collecting 10 solo tackles and tipping two passes. Vick managed 33 rushing yards and McCoy only 71 -- of which 33 came on one play. What you saw Monday night was a 33-year-old Urlacher playing the way he did when he was 23. An impressive effort, not to mention a lot of 33s.

2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers quarterback: Rodgers could be a staple in this feature, but we try to save him for special occasions. In this case, Rodgers capped his MVP first half with a number of accomplishments worth noting. First, his 64-yard pass Sunday to receiver Jordy Nelson was one of the best throws I've seen him make. Rolling to his right, Rodgers didn't have time to set his feet and simply flung the ball about 55 yards in the air. Second, that pass helped elevate Rodgers' completion percentage on throws of 20 or more yards downfield to 65.2 percent this season. That's a better completion percentage than all but three NFL quarterbacks have on all of their throws. Amazing.

3. Earl Bennett, Bears receiver: How much different did the Bears' offense look with Bennett back after a nearly two-month absence? He caught all five of the passes quarterback Jay Cutler threw him Monday night, totaling 95 yards and what amounted to the winning touchdown. It's long been established that Cutler loves throwing to him, but Monday you saw why: Bennett is tough, sure-handed and reliable in clutch situations. Other than tailback Matt Forte, you really couldn't say that about any other Bears skill position player this season.

Make that two veteran signings for the Detroit Lions. We noted the arrival of offensive lineman Leonard Davis Monday, and the team just confirmed that it also re-signed tailback Kevin Smith from a group of 24 players who worked out for the team during its bye week.

Smith played for the Lions from 2008-10, but the decision to pair starter Jahvid Best with rookie Mikel Leshoure squeezed him out of their 2011 plans. Leshoure's ruptured Achilles tendon was the beginning of a positional breakdown that has continued with Jerome Harrison's brain tumor and Best's latest concussion.

The Lions have been using a combination of Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams in recent weeks. Smith knows their offense well enough to step in right away, but it's not clear how quickly the Lions want to get him on the field or if they view him as insurance against Best's continued absence.

The Lions were off Monday and will return to the practice field Tuesday. Stay tuned.

DENVER -- As expected, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford will start Sunday against the Denver Broncos. And the Lions feel confident enough about his injured right ankle that third-string quarterback Drew Stanton is inactive.

Shaun Hill will be the only backup quarterback active, as usual.

There were no surprises among the Lions' pregame roster announcements. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley (foot), receiver Rashied Davis (foot) and running back Jahvid Best are among those who won't play. New safety Chris Harris, claimed Friday on waivers from the Chicago Bears, is inactive as well.

Maurice Morris will start at running back for Jahvid Best.

After the Detroit Lions' 23-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. The Lions are terming quarterback Matthew Stafford day-to-day because of an injured right ankle suffered on his final play of Sunday's game. Coach Jim Schwartz said that Stafford's right knee is "not an issue." Schwartz wouldn't reveal what an MRI showed but implied that the injury is not major. "If he had a broken bone or something like that," Schwartz told reporters, "he’d be more than day-to-day." Stafford has made seven consecutive starts, the longest streak of his young career, and unless Schwartz is dramatically underplaying the injury, you would like to think he'll find a way onto the field Sunday against the Denver Broncos. The bigger question will be whether Stafford can find his way out of a mini-slump that has produced his worst two starts of the season.
2. Schwartz used the same classification on Stafford as he did for running back Jahvid Best, who still needs to pass a series of post-concussion tests before he returns to the field. I kind of liked what the Lions did without Best on Sunday, letting loose Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams on a number of quick-hitting interior runs to get them rumbling downfield. They combined for 94 yards, more than Best produced in five of his six starts. If you think that defenses have adjusted to what the Lions did earlier this season with Stafford, then it's imperative the Lions find a way to break their tendencies with the run game.
3. The Lions rank fourth in the NFL with 57 accepted penalties, or more than eight per game. Some of them have been harmless and others have been critical mistakes. And too many have been like the first-down holding call against guard Rob Sims, putting the Lions in a first-and-20 situation. Whether you have an explosive offense or not, it's tough to dig out of many holes like that.

And here is one issue I still don't get:

I'm not sure what to make of rookie defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who was credited with the first (and only) tackle of his three-game NFL career Sunday. Fairley missed almost all of training camp, the entire preseason and the first four games of the regular season. So is he still in preseason mode? Is his surgically-repaired foot still not 100 percent? Is he adjusting to the level of play in the NFL? The bottom line is that we haven't seen a ton of impact yet from the No. 13 overall pick of the draft.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Week 7 brought our division a little bit closer. Yes, the Green Bay Packers are 7-0. But the Detroit Lions' second consecutive defeat dropped their record to 5-2, just one game ahead of the now 4-3 Chicago Bears. And the Bears could even themselves out in the loss column while on their bye this weekend if the Lions can't win this Sunday at the Denver Broncos.

We'll have plenty to discuss this week even as the Packers join the Bears on their bye. The health of Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, the future of Minnesota Vikings receiver Bernard Berrian and the fallout from Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder's first NFL start are all on our agenda.

But first, a look at local coverage from Sunday's action:

• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune on the Bears' tight win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in London: "This trip across the Atlantic always was about the destination, so there's no need to nitpick problems along the journey. Like a British pound is worth more than a dollar, the NFL exchange rate on this win gives it added value for the Bears."
• With that said, the Bucs certainly gave the Bears added opportunities to win. Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune looks at quarterback Josh Freeman's four interceptions.
• Bears quarterback Jay Cutler made no excuses for his shaky game, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• Bears tailback Matt Forte has already surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for rushing this season, notes Dickerson.
• Both teams looked affected by jet lag, writes Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Although his leg injury doesn't appear serious, Stafford hasn't played well in the past two weeks. Writes Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press: "The NFL figures you out eventually. When you think you’ve got the biggest, most explosive array of fireworks, it’s only a matter of time before someone finds an extinguisher. The Lions’ offense is under water right now. There’s nothing dazzling about a total of two touchdowns and four plays of plus-30 yards in the past two games."
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News: "The Lions' offense isn't going to be dynamic every week, especially with so much required of the quarterback. As long as Stafford's ankle isn't damaged badly, they can crank it back up. But as reality checks go, this was a wincing one. Stafford was touched and struggled with his touch, a sight these Lions can't afford to see."
• Lions running backs Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams combined for 94 yards on 18 carries, notes Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• Packers offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse after giving up a pair of sacks to Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "There were a lot of ups and downs. It's never going to go smoothly and never going to go the way you think it will, so you just have to keep playing and improve. I definitely have some stuff to work on, but the way we kept battling, it was fun to see."
• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "[H]ardly anything coach Mike McCarthy's team does is easy."
• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "Make no mistake, the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings don’t like each other."
• Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press on the Vikings' quarterback transition: "The difference between the two was astounding. The offense looked much quicker with Ponder taking shots down the field."
• Vikings coach Leslie Frazier's trust in his defense wasn't rewarded, notes Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com.
• Frazier said the organization will discuss the future of Berrian this week, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Vikings safety Husain Abdullah admitted to busting coverage on the Packers' 79-yard touchdown pass to receiver Greg Jennings. Mark Craig of the Star Tribune has more.

The Detroit Lions have officially ended the season of running back Jerome Harrison, placing him on the reserve/non-football injury list. Harrison was diagnosed with a brain tumor during a physical following his since-voided trade to the Philadelphia Eagles, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Taking Harrison's spot on the roster is third-year player Eldra Buckley, who spent the past two seasons with the Eagles and worked out with the Lions this week. He had 31 carries in 2009 and 2010 combined, but played in all 32 regular-season games over that stretch.

With Harrison now sidelined, and the immediate future of starter Jahvid Best in doubt because of a second concussion in three months, the Lions presumably will move forward with veteran Maurice Morris as their top running back. Keiland Williams, a waiver claim last month who has 19 carries this season, will also be part of the rotation.

Earlier: Should Best sit out the rest of the season?

We're Black and Blue All Over:

As you might have heard Wednesday night, the Detroit Lions' trade for Philadelphia Eagles running back Ronnie Brown has been voided because running back Jerome Harrison, whom the Lions packaged as part of the compensation for Brown, failed his physical with the Eagles.

Harrison's exact condition is unknown. He was not on the Lions' most recent injury report, and he remains on their roster. Brown reverts to the Eagles. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Lions worked out four free-agent running backs earlier this week: James Davis, Charles Scott, Chauncey Washington, and DeShawn Wynn. Davis signed to the Lions' practice squad.

It was never clear if Brown was destined to become a significant part of the Lions' offense or if he was going to be a spot player behind Jahvid Best, Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams. Best's concussion remains an issue and could hold him out of Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, but Morris seemed next in line regardless.

It is clear, however, that the Lions aren't thrilled with their backfield depth as they approach the midpoint of the season.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Lions have a "gaping" hole in the backfield, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Justin Rogers of Mlive.com examines the circumstances around Best's concussion.
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News: "It's simplistic to say the Lions won't accept being pushed around anymore. In fact, it's so simplistic, I'm gonna say it."
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com reveals what Green Bay Packers receivers are doing to penalize each other for dropped passes.
• Packers linebacker Frank Zombo (knee) should be able to return to the lineup in a few weeks, notes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel looks back at the Packers' performances against the Vikings without left tackle Chad Clifton.
• Dam Pompei of the Chicago Tribune on Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler's in-game profanity Sunday night: "The message Cutler really sends -- to his coaches, his teammates, his opponent and the public -- is that he lacks respect and self control. Cutler doesn't have to agree with the call, or how it was made, but he does have to show courtesy to the people and the process. That's not football, that's life."
• Jovial Bears defensive lineman Anthony Adams said he plans to "mess with" some Royal Guards during the team's trip to London. Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com has more.
• Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice, via Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times: "First of all, every team gives their linemen help. I thought we had a good game plan. It's not like, all of a sudden, 'The Bears' offensive line is so bad that they need all this help.' It's that, we haven't been giving them help, so now we're giving them help, it helps settle things down and build their confidence, and gives them a chance to hang in there and not jump the count."
• Patrick Reusse of the Star Tribune looks at the Minnesota Vikings' history of quarterback demotions.
• Vikings coach Leslie Frazier went out of his way to say he is not giving up on 2011, notes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton hopes to have a Vikings stadium recommendation in place by Nov. 7, allowing for three weeks of hearings and public debate before a potential special session of the state legislature on Nov. 21. Doug Belden of the Pioneer Press explains.
• The NFL won't stand in the way of the Vikings seeking alternative cities if their lease expires in February without a stadium agreement. Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com explains.

You were asking throughout our SportsNation chat Tuesday afternoon if the Detroit Lions would acquire a running back before the NFL's trade deadline. Many of you wanted them to pursue Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis. As it turned out, the Lions had their eye on veteran Ronnie Brown, who has been wasting away on the Philadelphia Eagles' bench this season.

I'm not sure if we can immediately evaluate the impact of what could be a minor trade. The Lions gave up next to nothing to finalize the deal: A seventh-round draft pick and veteran Jerome Harrison, whom they were hardly using themselves. But Brown has gotten one fewer carry (13) this season than Harrison (14), and at 29 -- and after knee and foot injuries earlier in his career -- it's not clear how much he has left.

Said Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc.: "He struggles to make people miss now and I don't see much of a burst/acceleration."

At the same time, Brown offers some promising potential. He has always been an above-average receiver, a critical attribute in the Lions' passing offense, and at 230 pounds is a much better power option than starter Jahvid Best. As a rookie with the Miami Dolphins in 2005, his offensive coordinator was current Lions play-caller Scott Linehan. And if the Lions have any plans to use a version of the Wildcat offense, Brown was the key component in the original scheme the Dolphins introduced in 2008.

The biggest question this trade raises is one even the Lions might not be ready to answer: Did the Lions acquire Brown simply for depth at a relatively thin position? Or are they concerned about the long-term status of Best, who is dealing with his second concussion in three months?

Concussions are difficult to project and the Lions might not have a handle on Best's recovery timetable right away. If he can't play this week against the Atlanta Falcons, I would expect Maurice Morris to start in his place. If that's the case, the Lions should know better than anyone if they should trust Harrison as his backup. Obviously, they wanted a different option.

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Detroit Lions' game-day deactivation list contained no surprises but did confirm their running back rotation for at least one weekend.

Newcomer Keiland Williams is inactive, meaning veterans Maurice Morris and Jerome Harrison will provide relief behind starter Jahvid Best. You had to figure it would take some time, maybe more than a week, for Williams to learn the offense well enough to surpass anyone on the depth chart.

To no one's surprise, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are wearing their white jerseys, leaving the Lions to wear their home blues. As of 11:30 a.m. ET, it was 87 degrees here, but the humidity has dropped to 56 percent. So the heat index is "only" 92 degrees at this point.

The Detroit Lions' interest in adding a running back was one of the worst-kept secrets in the NFC North this weekend. Sunday, they claimed a power back who on paper has an appropriately different skill set than starter Jahvid Best.

Keiland Williams is a 230-pound power back who gained 261 yards and also caught 39 passes in 15 games last season with the Washington Redskins. He'll join a group that includes Best along with veterans Jerome Harrison and Maurice Morris. Aaron Brown was released Sunday to create Williams' roster spot.

I'm betting that Harrison will be the first runner off the bench early this season, but Williams is an intriguing prospect. Here's part of the Scouts Inc. player evaluation on him: "Williams is a big, strong back with power to move the pile on contact. He lacks great burst and speed but has good inline vision and cutting ability. He has reliable hands as a receiver out of the backfield and is able to pick up chunks of yards downfield."

As we've discussed, Best can be a big-time playmaker but isn't really a feature back. The Lions hoped to use rookie Mikel Leshoure in that role, but Leshoure's season-ending Achilles injury forced a change to those plans.

General manager Martin Mayhew is known for tweaking his roster throughout the season, so I wouldn't say he is finished dealing with the repercussions of Leshoure's injury. But for now, Harrison, Morris and Williams will provide offensive coordinator Scott Linehan some credible options.