ESPN NFL

Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith told reporters a few minutes ago that receiver Sam Hurd is still a member of the organization.

I can only assume that's a matter of administrative process and not a reflection of ongoing discussions about Hurd's future. The Bears must distance themselves immediately from a player who allegedly told undercover investigators that he wanted to buy "five to 10 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 pounds of marijuana per week for distribution" in Chicago, according to the police complaint. At the very least, Hurd should be moved to the team's suspended list within the next 24 hours if he isn't waived outright.

It would be too convenient to come down on the Bears for the quality of their background check on Hurd. Undercover federal investigators don't usually offer prospective employers a heads-up on their work. The Bears might not have seen this coming, but they need to react swiftly to end their portion of it.

After that, they should be sick about the dichotomy of the swap they made this summer. They allowed receiver/special teams ace Rashied Davis to sign with the Detroit Lions, in essence signing Hurd as a younger replacement. Hurd gave them eight special teams tackles and eight receptions on offense, while Davis took his sparkling citizenship to Detroit and has helped the Lions to their first non-losing season in more than a decade.

You win some and you lose some. And sometimes, you get crushed.

Let's catch up after a busy Wednesday of newsbits here in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: Cornerback D.J. Moore, who has missed three games because of an ankle injury, is expected to practice without restrictions this week and could resume his role as the Bears' nickel back for Sunday's game at the Denver Broncos. … Quarterback Jay Cutler had the stitches removed from his surgically-repaired right thumb. He hopes to resume throwing in the next week or so but said on ESPN 1000: "It's just time and time is not really on our side right now."

Detroit Lions: Missing from practice were safety Louis Delmas (knee), defensive tackle Nick Fairley (foot), cornerback Chris Houston (knee), defensive end Lawrence Jackson (thigh) and running back Kevin Smith (ankle). … According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, receiver Rashied Davis appeared to be taking practice repetitions from rookie Titus Young, who is a candidate to be benched for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Receiver Nate Burleson told reporters that coach Jim Schwartz has announced "a zero-tolerance policy" against "bonehead mistakes." Schwartz said: "Guys that hurt the team aren't going to be available to be able to do things like that. We are going to do everything we can to win the football game."

Green Bay Packers: Linebacker Erik Walden, arrested November 25 after a domestic incident with his girlfriend, was charged Wednesday with misdemeanor disorderly conduct-domestic abuse. He is free on bond and has a hearing scheduled for Dec. 27. Coach Mike McCarthy said the situation is under review but that Walden will start Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. … Linebacker Desmond Bishop (calf) doesn't appear likely to play Sunday, but fellow linebacker A.J. Hawk (calf) has a better chance. Neither Bishop nor Hawk practiced Wednesday. Cornerback Charles Woodson (concussion) was a limited participant in practice. … The Packers promoted quarterback Graham Harrell from the practice squad to the active roster because, according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the Buffalo Bills were trying to sign him.

Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback Christian Ponder (hip) and running back Adrian Peterson (ankle) both sat out practice. Ponder is expected to play Sunday against the Lions. Peterson's status is less clear. Defensive end Brian Robison (concussion) also missed practice, as did left guard Steve Hutchinson (illness).

A few notes from the two NFC North teams with games scheduled this weekend:

Detroit Lions: Quarterback Matthew Stafford (ankle) was officially listed as limited in practice. Rookie defensive tackle Nick Fairley (foot), who hasn't made much impact in his three games this season, didn't practice. Running back Jahvid Best (concussion), offensive lineman Gosder Cherilus (knee), receiver Rashied Davis (foot), defensive lineman Sammie Hill (ankle) and cornerback Chris Houston (back) also didn't practice.

Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback Antoine Winfield (neck) is going to test himself in a padded practice Thursday and could be getting closer to a return. Receiver Percy Harvin (ribs), offensive lineman Anthony Herrera (knee), running back Adrian Peterson (ankle) and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (foot) all sat out practice. Herrera is likely to miss a few games and be replaced by backup center Joe Berger, presuming starting center John Sullivan (concussion) plays Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

A few NFC North practice and injury notes:

Chicago Bears: Receiver Devin Hester (chest) fully participated in Thursday's practice. So did receiver Earl Bennett (chest), but unlike Hester, it appears Bennett might not play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Detroit Lions: The team has not commented on ESPN's report that running back Jerome Harrison was diagnosed with a brain tumor earlier this week. Harrison was listed on the injury report with an "illness." Harrison, running back Jahvid Best (concussion) and receiver Rashied Davis (foot) did not practice. Linebacker Justin Durant and tight end Tony Scheffler, both of whom have been dealing with concussions, practiced on a limited basis.

Green Bay Packers: Linebacker Clay Matthews (quadriceps) and right guard Josh Sitton (knee) were limited participants Thursday. Cornerback Sam Shields (concussion) did not practice.

Minnesota Vikings: Center John Sullivan (concussion ) and safety Jamarca Sanford (concussion) both sat out practice and are going to have a hard time playing Sunday against the Packers. Cornerback Antoine Winfield (neck) had limited participation for the second consecutive day, but his status remains uncertain. Right tackle Phil Loadholt (knee) returned to practice.

DETROIT -- A few important NFC North notes from the inactive lists for Sunday's early games:

• The Detroit Lions will have safety Amari Spievey in the starting lineup against the San Francisco 49ers. He missed last week's game against the Chicago Bears because of a hamstring injury.
• Will Heller will start for Lions tight end Tony Scheffler (concussion).
• Lions receiver/special-teams ace Rashied Davis (foot) is active for the first time in a month.
• As expected, the Green Bay Packers will have Bryan Bulaga (knee) back at right tackle and will start Marshall Newhouse at left tackle.

Getting inside the Friday injury report, including a newly-broken hand of a starting defensive player in Green Bay:

Chicago Bears: We've already discussed the situation with defensive end Julius Peppers, who is listed as doubtful for Sunday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings because of a sprained knee. I wouldn't rule Peppers out for sure, but he obviously will be limited if he does play. Meanwhile, receiver Earl Bennett (torso) is listed as questionable but seems unlikely to play Sunday night.

Detroit Lions: Linebacker Justin Durant (concussion) and tight end Tony Scheffler (concussion) won't play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Neither will safety Vincent Fuller (elbow). Cornerback Aaron Berry, receiver Rashied Davis, offensive lineman Jason Fox and safety Amari Spievey are questionable. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports Berry and Spievey are likely to play.

Green Bay Packers: Safety Morgan Burnett broke his right hand Thursday in practice but is probable for Sunday's game against the 49ers. He'll have to play with some sort of hard wrap on the hand, but he told reporters: "They’re telling me I’m able to go." The Packers don't have a lot of options. With safety Nick Collins already lost for the season, the Packers have only one backup safety: Rookie free agent M.D. Jennings, who took Burnett's place in practice Friday. They'll have to hope Burnett can play well enough despite a significant restriction. Offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga (knee) was listed as probable as well and is expected to start at right tackle Sunday.

Minnesota Vikings: It's not looking good for cornerback Antoine Winfield, who hasn't practiced all week because of a neck injury. He is officially listed as doubtful for Sunday night's game. Receiver Percy Harvin (ribs) is listed as questionable, but he practiced Friday and coach Leslie Frazier said: "I think he should be ready."

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley sounded Friday like a player ready to make his NFL debut. He told Detroit-area reporters that "I'm just ready to get out there" and revealed that he participated in team drills for the first time since returning from foot surgery.

If that's the case, however, it's still hard to imagine Fairley playing a significant role in Monday night's game against the Chicago Bears. He has obviously made some progress, but are a few repetitions in a team drill enough to prepare a rookie recovering from a serious injury for his first NFL game?

The only Lions players who didn't participate in at least a portion of practice Friday were receiver Rashied Davis (foot) and safety Erik Coleman (ankle).

Meanwhile, it appears that Bears safety Chris Harris (hamstring) will return to the starting lineup after missing two games. Coach Lovie Smith told reporters he thinks Harris will be "good to go" Monday night.

Getting inside the Friday injury report, which includes the expected debut of a veteran running back in Chicago, the loss of a starting linebacker in Detroit, lingering knee problems of a linebacker in Minnesota and surgery for a sidelined safety in Green Bay:

Chicago Bears: Safety Chris Harris (hamstring) was listed as questionable but appears unlikely to play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Tight end Matt Spaeth (calf) might also be sidelined. It's expected that running back Marion Barber (calf) will play in his first game of the regular season. Receiver Earl Bennett and right tackle Gabe Carimi are out.

Detroit Lions: Linebacker Justin Durant (concussion) won't play against the Dallas Cowboys, a big loss for the Lions. Durant has been their leading tackler through three games and will be replaced by Bobby Carpenter. The Lions also ruled out receiver Rashied Davis (foot). Six players are questionable, but all six of them participated in a portion of practice Friday.

Green Bay Packers: As expected, running back Ryan Grant (kidney) and right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee) won’t play Sunday against the Denver Broncos. Coach Mike McCarthy indicated that veteran John Kuhn would be the second running back into the game behind starter James Starks. Linebacker Clay Matthews (quadriceps) did not practice Friday but is probable. Meanwhile, safety Nick Collins underwent fusion surgery on his neck Thursday, according to multiple reports. Collins has long been ruled out for the season, and the question now is whether he will be ready to play when the 2012 season begins.

Minnesota Vikings: Linebacker E.J. Henderson (knee) is listed as questionable, along with safety Jamarca Sanford (shoulder). Henderson is expected to play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, but coach Leslie Frazier said his snaps could be limited. Henderson told reporters he noticed himself limping on film last Sunday against the Detroit Lions. Waiver wire pickup Xavier Adibi likely would take any snaps Henderson misses. Sanford practiced in full pads Thursday and Friday, so it's not clear how serious his injury is.

Getting inside Friday's injury report, which includes the return to practice of a certain rookie defensive tackle in Detroit:

Chicago Bears: We already knew that right tackle Gabe Carimi (knee) and receiver Earl Bennett (chest) wouldn't play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. The Bears officially declared them out Friday. Five other players are questionable, however, including: Safety Chris Harris (hamstring), receiver Roy Williams (groin), safety Major Wright (head/neck), guard Lance Louis (ankle) and running back Marion Barber (calf). All will be game-time decisions, but Harris and Williams seem to have a decent chance of playing against the Green Bay Packers.

Detroit Lions: Rookie defensive tackle Nick Fairley (foot) made a much-anticipated return to practice, but he is at least a week away from getting into a game and maybe more. Four players are questionable for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings: Receivers Rashied Davis (hamstring) and Maurice Stovall (hand), tight end Brandon Pettigrew (shoulder) and linebacker DeAndre Levy (knee). Pettigrew missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, but returned Friday. Levy practiced Thursday and Friday and it would be a mild surprise if he doesn't play Sunday. All other players, other than offensive lineman Jason Fox (foot), will be available.

Green Bay Packers: Cornerback Tramon Williams (shoulder) is probable and expected to start against the Bears. Other than the Packers' three long-term injuries -- defensive end Mike Neal (knee), safety Nick Collins (neck) and linebacker Frank Zombo (shoulder) -- everyone on the roster will be available to play Sunday. That includes linebacker Clay Matthews (quadriceps) and cornerback Charles Woodson (foot).

Minnesota Vikings: Receiver Percy Harvin returned to practice after going home sick Thursday. Harvin is listed as probable, as are six other players. Cornerback Chris Cook (groin) is questionable, but indications all week have been that he will play against the Lions.

NFC West colleague Mike Sando has compiled his annual roster rankings by age, and the results are of particular interest in the NFC North.

Based on rosters as of Sunday morning, the Detroit Lions are the fourth-oldest team in the NFL. The Green Bay Packers, meanwhile, are the second-youngest. Keep in mind that NFL teams will continue to tweak their rosters over the next few days, but nothing should dramatically shake up these rankings.

The Packers ensured their continued youth by including 10 rookies among the 53 players on their final roster Saturday. And as the chart in Mike's post shows, the Lions' offense is primarily responsible for their relative age.

The Lions' offensive line includes a pair of 32-year-olds in Jeff Backus and Dominic Raiola. Backup receiver Rashied Davis is also 32. Backup quarterback Shaun Hill and running back Maurice Morris are 31. And tight end Will Heller, kick returner Stefan Logan and receiver Nate Burleson are all 30.

There are many paths to building a winning roster, and these rankings aren't a comment as much as they are a peek into each team's philosophy. With that said, here are the full NFC North rankings:

4. Detroit Lions
10. Minnesota Vikings
23. Chicago Bears
31. Green Bay Packers

Check here for a complete list of the Chicago Bears' roster moves.

Surprise move: The Bears have now bid farewell to three locker room stalwarts: Center Olin Kreutz, receiver Rashied Davis and now tight end Desmond Clark. The Bears released Clark as part of Saturday's roster cutdown, deciding to keep undrafted rookie Kyle Adams instead. Clark said via Twitter that "I played my butt off but sometimes it's more about the business." The Bears indicated that he was released with an injury. Regardless, intentionally or otherwise, the Bears have at least temporarily created a player leadership void.

No-brainers: After last week's communication fiasco, there was little doubt that running back Chester Taylor would be part of this cutdown. The Bears need only two tailbacks behind starter Matt Forte, and those roles will be filled by Marion Barber and Kahlil Bell. They also kept fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou. I don't know if the Bears entered training camp planning to keep undrafted rookie receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, but his quick ascension as a slot receiver was obvious by the midpoint of the preseason. Quarterback Jay Cutler loves throwing to him.

What's next: The Bears' depth at linebacker is a little scary. They kept only five at the position, with Brian Iwuh and undrafted rookie Dom DeCicco as the reserves behind Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher and Nick Roach. You would think the Bears would at least scan the waiver wire for additional depth, especially with Briggs nursing a knee injury. And with Barber and Bell having suffered preseason injuries, the Bears might check out emergency running back depth as well.

You might have missed it. Many people do when it comes to what Rashied Davis does on a football field. But if you weren't still talking about the Detroit Lions' surgical opening possession of the preseason Friday night, you might have seen Davis sprint 40 yards downfield, converge on Cincinnati Bengals kick returner John Griffin and alertly fall on a fumble at the Bengals' 16-yard line. Four plays later, the Lions had a 14-0 lead.

No matter how many blue-chip players a team might have, it can't win without the "glue guys" who fill in the gaps and keep it all together. Davis spent six years in that role for the Chicago Bears, and when the Bears lost sight of that value this summer, he jumped to a Lions team that was thrilled to get him.

Perspective is necessary here. I don't want to suggest Davis will be the difference between a 6-10 and 10-6 season for the Lions. But here's what I can tell you: No matter where I turned last week at Lions training camp, someone was telling me how excited they were to have Davis on the roster.

"I can't say enough about him," offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. "That's the kind of pro you want to have. I'm able to show the young guys that this is a 32-year-old veteran that is a special-teamer. Been in this league X amount of years because he just does everything 100 percent and right. That's just been a great example for those guys.

"I think he's somebody to keep an eye on. He's going to be out there playing on our special teams a lot. You're going to see him jump in there on offensive plays and be an effective receiver for us. He's really caught my eye out here an don the field."

Most NFC North fans know Davis' story. Unwanted by the NFL after finishing his college career at San Jose State, Davis played in the Arena Football League and worked in a Best Buy during the offseason. The Bears signed him in 2005, and he played both cornerback and receiver for them while providing a building block for their elite special-teams group.

No one was more surprised than Davis when the Bears replaced him with free agent Sam Hurd, who will presumably take Davis' spot on their special teams and give them a different look on offense.

"If you look at any interview I did before this happened," Davis said, "I did it as if I was still a Bear. I had every indication that I would be a Bear at the end of last season. But God has different plans for you all the time. I just try to go where he wants me to be. I feel like this is where God wants me to be right now for whatever reason."

Lions coach Jim Schwartz developed a long-distance admiration for Davis in 2008, when he was preparing for a matchup with the Bears as the Tennessee Titans' defensive coordinator.

"We hadn't played the Bears in three years," Schwartz said. "I didn't even know who he was. I mean literally, I remember [current Lions linebackers coach] Matt Burke was doing the quality control and on Monday, he brought me [the scouting report] and I'm like, 'Who is Rashied Davis?'

"He's like, 'Ah, he played Arena ball. He was a corner. And he was a solid wide receiver.' But what I remembered is that he played with such a great mentality. He played with a defensive mentality playing wide receiver. He was blocking, he was finishing plays and all those things.

"I went up to him after the game and I said, 'Man, I never knew who you were but I know now. I've got a lot of respect for the way you played in this game.' It's interesting that four years later, all of a sudden he swings back around."

You're not going to see Davis make 75 catches in the Lions' offense, and you probably won't see him reprise his role as a cornerback. You'll have to really pay attention to see how he makes the Lions better. He'll be in the right position to recover a fumble. He'll always get 6 yards downfield on third-and-5. He'll teach Calvin Johnson something he never thought of. He might inspire one young player to find extra work after practice, as he himself was the day I talked to him.

"I personally feel like every adult has a responsibility to himself and to society as a whole to give back," Davis said. "It's part of my nature and who I am. So I try to show guys by example how to be a professional. ... I always practice hard. I do my best to be on point and be on top of everything and also teach them a few little tricks that I may know, especially the smaller guys.

"They might be little small tricks, little nuances about the game, especially on special teams. I guess I'm really known for being a really good special-teams player. I try to impart some of those things I have learned ... throughout the years, some things that you may not necessarily learn from a coach that's actually out there and the tricks that I've learned and seen other people that have helped them."

The Lions' 2011 fortunes rest on the shoulders of the players we've discussed for months: Quarterback Matthew Stafford, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Johnson and others. Rashied Davis' job will be to fill the gaps and cover the potholes that get in their way.

"We just have a lot of respect for how he came into the league," Schwartz said. "You can't help but respect that. And then he comes out and works his hardest every single day. That's a great example for our players."

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The same question surfaced at every stop on my NFC North training camp tour. In some form or fashion, division rivals wanted to know: Have the Detroit Lions improved as much as advertised?

After all, Lions Fever long ago engulfed the blog/region/nation. A four-game winning streak to end 2010, the return of quarterback Matthew Stafford and an exciting draft class all suggested the Lions were ready to break free from a decade of disappointment.

But even after spending three days in the Detroit suburbs, I still don’t think I’ve seen the 2011 Lions. What I saw was Lions Lite.

By the time I arrived at Lions camp, the team’s top three draft choices -- defensive tackle Nick Fairley, receiver Titus Young and running back Mikel Leshoure -- had been sidelined by significant injuries. Left tackle Jeff Backus (pectoral) wasn’t practicing and neither was backup Jason Fox (foot). Tight end Brandon Pettigrew, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen after suffering an ankle injury.

What’s important, however, is that the franchise had neither panicked nor fallen into a funk. Leshoure’s is the only season-ending injury, and it was obvious even to an amateur observer that the Lions still have a talented collection of players on the practice field, one that romped to a 34-3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in its preseason opener Friday night. Many in that collection are entering their third year in the same system, and all of them are determined to give us something the NFC North has never seen: a four-team division.

"This team can be great," said receiver Rashied Davis, a part of two Chicago Bears teams that advanced to the NFC Championship Game. "I really think that. It is a great bunch of guys and there really is tons of talent."

THREE BIG ISSUES

1. Backus' status: The Lions are equipped to absorb injuries at many positions, but left tackle isn’t one of them. Fox’s injury has only exacerbated the issue and left the Lions using players who would otherwise be relegated to their third team at the most important position on the line.

Torn pectoral muscles usually require season-ending surgery. The Lions haven’t revealed the severity of the injury, but their insistence that Backus will be ready for the regular-season opener suggests the muscle isn’t completely torn. Backus hasn’t missed a game in his 10 previous seasons, and quite frankly the Lions are banking on his durability in this instance.

"You've just got to go on history there," coach Jim Schwartz said. "He has started 160 straight games. … Jeff is obviously experienced and is a hard worker and doesn’t need every single rep in training camp. We can afford to take it slow with him and get him back the right way rather than have to rush him back too soon."

In the end, the question isn’t likely to be whether Backus plays, but if the injury has (temporarily) diminished his effectiveness. After all, an offensive lineman needs full extension and strength in his arms to ward off pass-rushers.

2. Stafford's return: I know it might ring hollow for those of you concerned about his health, but Stafford was zinging the ball all over the field during my time in Lions camp. He is now completely at ease in coordinator Scott Linehan’s offense and clearly bulked up this offseason to better prepare for the rigors of a 16-game season.

I saw Stafford loft 25-yard touch passes into the back of the end zone just as easily as he rifled 30-yard ropes over the middle. I realize that practice throws don't always predict game performance, and I know that his biggest challenge is durability and not ability. But to the extent that he could over three days of camp, Stafford sure looked like a quarterback who is ready to break through to NFL stardom.

"It's hard because he’s missed a lot of time on field," Linehan said. "But you can see the ownership he’s taken in this offense. He spends a lot of time with the players, with the system and in the building. It’s not just me talking in the meeting rooms anymore. He’s spot-on. He’s going to have a great career. I really think that."

3. Secondary issues are now secondary: The Lions' systematic rebuild of their defense is now two-thirds complete. They’ve built one of the best defensive lines in the game. They have three credible starters at linebacker. All that remains is the secondary.

Right?

The Lions weren't as worried about their secondary during the early portion of training camp as some other people were. Safety Louis Delmas has been a constant presence, having regained his health following offseason surgery on his groin. Cornerback Chris Houston re-signed after a brief foray on the free-agent market, strong safety Amari Spievey reported to training camp in good physical condition and new cornerback Eric Wright has been a consistent playmaker during team workouts.

I saw Wright end a team drill with a strong anticipatory interception of Stafford. A few days later, defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham had this hyperbolic but revealing assessment: "To me, there’s only one athlete like this in the NFL. And he’s old. That’s Champ Bailey. [Wright] is a pure, one of the most outstanding athletes to come out of the draft in a long time."

The Lions have some decent depth behind Wright and Houston. Aaron Berry has again impressed coaches when he has been healthy, and the Lions should get back Alphonso Smith (foot) before the start of the regular season.

The secondary might be a weak link on a relative scale, but it might not be as weak as some might have feared.

BEST RELATIONSHIP

A second consecutive offseason spent working together has left Stafford and Calvin Johnson in position to do some serious damage. It’s obvious to anyone watching Lions practice that the two have developed a level of chemistry that only time can bring.

"I feel like he trusts me that I'm going to put the ball in a good place to give him a chance," Stafford said, "and I definitely trust him when I put it up there that he's going to come down with it or nobody is."

Injuries have limited the two to 13 games over the past two seasons, but there is a feeling in Lions camp that the pair is ready to break out in 2011. The duo got off to a strong start Friday night on a back-shoulder touchdown pass to end the Lions’ first possession.

UNANSWERED QUESTION

What is the true impact of Leshoure’s injury? It’s hard to know because we’re not entirely sure how the Lions planned to use Leshoure and Jahvid Best. Was Leshoure going to be the change of pace? Or was Best?

If Leshoure continued his early-camp performance, it’s very possible it could have been the latter. Best himself said the team had given him no indication whether he would get 20 carries per game, 10 carries per game or fewer.

"I was figuring that about midway through the preseason it was really going to start to show," Best said.

So what now? For the short term, at least, Best is firmly entrenched as the No. 1 back. In Friday night’s preseason opener, Best was either the ball carrier or the intended target on seven of 11 plays run by the Lions’ first-team offense.

But if the Lions’ aggressive move to draft Leshoure told us anything, it's that they don’t want Best carrying the entire load. The first candidate to be his running mate is newcomer Jerome Harrison, who was the first back off the bench Friday night. It’s too early to know if Harrison is up to the job, but the Lions really want to get Best some help -- from somewhere.

OBSERVATION DECK

• For the first time in a long time, place-kicker Jason Hanson isn’t guaranteed a spot on the roster. For that matter, the Lions also have a legitimate challenger to punter Nick Harris in Ryan Donahue. But Hanson’s roster battle with Dave Rayner has generated some attention. Schwartz said that "everyone on our 90-man camp roster has a chance to make the team." He noted that Hanson is kicking "very well," as is Rayner. "It’s a good situation for us," Schwartz said. Both kickers were booming kickoffs well into the end zone during my stay at camp. (Given the NFL’s shift of kickoffs to the 35-yard line, that’s to be expected.)
• Cunningham joked (I think) that he "took the over" on the pre-camp weight of Spievey and defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill. He was pleasantly surprised. The Lions are especially pleased with the way Spievey has taken ownership of his position. He looked lean and active during the early part of camp and appeared healthy as well. "Amari's in great shape," Cunningham said. "His communication skill is much higher than it was, and he and Delmas really know each other."
• Most linebacker groups have a run-stopping plodder who is an obvious candidate to leave the field in the nickel. But with DeAndre Levy, Stephen Tulloch and Justin Durant, the Lions really don’t have one. Tulloch was leaving in the nickel during the portion of camp I watched, but he is a quick linebacker in his own right, and Schwartz insisted the Lions will mix and match their nickel lineups this season. "Our group gives us the flexibility to do that," he said.
• Coaches couldn’t stop raving about Rashied Davis’ impact on the locker room. "There’s a guy I can’t say enough about," Linehan said. "That’s the kind of pro you want to have. I’m able to show the young guys that this is a 32-year-old veteran that is a special-teamer. Been in this league X amount of years because he just does everything 100 percent and right. That’s just been a great example for those guys."
• One of my favorite sights of Lions training camp the past two years: veteran defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch’s insistence that he touch the ball on every play. Sometimes that means reaching one step over from his current position. Often, however, it means chasing a ball carrier as far as 30 yards downfield. By the way, it appears Vanden Bosch is fully recovered from neck surgery that ended his first season with the Lions.
• Will Wright re-establish his career with the Lions? He has the raw skills to do so, and now he has a defensive line that will, without question, make his job easier. "The D-line plays hard and it’s relentless," Wright said. "It’s contagious. From a total defensive standpoint, those guys rub off on us, especially the defensive backs."

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- I caught up Thursday with former Chicago Bears receiver/special-teams ace Rashied Davis, whom the Detroit Lions consider as important as any addition they've made to their roster this summer. I'll tell you soon about why coach Jim Schwartz and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan are so happy to have him, but first I want Davis' thoughts to be heard on an important NFC North topic.

I wanted to ask Davis about the field conditions at Soldier Field for two reasons. First, he is a smart player who could offer a credible and rational opinion on the situation based on years of experience. Second, his departure from the Bears eliminates any fear of reprisal.

Davis echoed what Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said recently. Players aren't too concerned from a safety perspective but think the Bears have missed the competitive boat by not maximizing their team speed with a faster turf.

"I would still rather play on the grass," Davis said. "Everybody would still rather play on the grass. But when it comes to performance, and especially the team that [coach Lovie Smith] has built over there, it's built on speed. It's built on speed. That grass field is not an advantage to them because they can't really run. They can't run and plant full speed and come out of breaks and all that with that weather like that. It's not an advantage."

A well-maintained grass field might lead to different results, but for years it has appeared that Soldier Field can't provide that option. Davis follows Bears safety Chris Harris and place-kicker Robbie Gould on Twitter, and he was stunned at the photographs they posted of the field conditions following last Friday cancellation of Family Night.

"It's atrocious," Davis said. "It's always been atrocious. I can say this now, but I don't know how the grounds crew keeps a job. Honestly. Because this early in the year, it's inexcusable for the grass not to be watered enough. Supposedly that was the problem. It's inexcusable. All you got to do is put the timer on. That's inexcusable."

Bears chairman George McCaskey said earlier this week that the team would make no changes to the playing surface because it considers grass the safest option. Davis didn't disagree, saying: "Grass gives, so you're not necessarily going to worry about getting your leg stuck in the ground." Davis, in fact, said Soldier Field grass has always been safer than the frozen turf the Bears and Minnesota Vikings played on last December at TCF Bank Stadium.

"That wasn't safe at all," Davis said. "That was much worse than torn-up-grass."

Still, you're talking about degrees of bad as opposed to levels of excellence. Soldier Field is a relatively new stadium in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Already this summer, Urlacher has called the situation "a joke." Now Rashied Davis considers it "atrocious." Why do we need to be discussing what option is the least dangerous instead of finding a way to make it as close to perfect as possible?

OK I'm going to get off the soap box now -- at least until Saturday's preseason opener.

Related: Bears president Ted Phillips told ESPN 1000 that the field will be "fine" Saturday night against the Buffalo Bills.

On Thursday, we find ourselves at an important juncture in the NFL's summer evaluation process. Players have been going at it in training camp for two weeks, giving coaches a glimpse of the kind of practice habits and skills they have. Beginning Thursday night for some teams and this weekend for the rest, we'll start getting an idea of how they function in games.

We've all heard stories of players who impress early in camp. Some continue that process through the preseason, and others fall off. So before things get confused by the upcoming transition, I want to pass along one rookie or newcomer who has caught my eye during each stop on CampTour'11. (And yes, I realize three of the four are receivers. I guess I spent a lot of time watching one-on-one drills.)

Chicago Bears
Player: Receiver Dane Sanzenbacher
Comment: I have no idea if the Bears will have roster space for a rookie free agent from Ohio State, and who knows how Sanzenbacher will perform in the preseason. But he sure looked comfortable in the slot position of offensive coordinator Mike Martz's offense during the time I was at Bears camp.

Detroit Lions
Player: Receiver Maurice Stovall
Comment: By all accounts, my choice here probably would have been tailback Mikel LeShoure had he not ruptured an Achilles tendon Monday. I realize Stovall has been in the NFL for five years, but at 6-foot-5 he is a big target who looked awfully difficult to stop during red zone drills that I watched. I'm not sure if the Lions can find a roster spot for him, especially after signing receiver/special-teams ace Rashied Davis, but Stovall seems intriguing.

Green Bay Packers
Player: Receiver/returner Randall Cobb
Comment: I was at Packers camp pretty early, but already it was clear that Cobb had exceptional acceleration, aggressiveness and open-field running ability. Reports indicate he has continued to open eyes, and everyone is excited to see what -- and how much -- he can handle in the preseason.

Minnesota Vikings
Player: Safety Mistral Raymond
Comment: Raymond has some of the thinnest legs I've seen and has a steep learning curve, but he appears to be a lively personality and a strong competitor who could make things interesting for the Vikings. At least one safety position is wide open, and Raymond saw some first-team repetitions as recently as Wednesday.