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Emptying most of my notebook after two days at Green Bay Packers minicamp:

• Mike Neal is the biggest outside linebacker I've seen, an observation probably enhanced by his habit of rolling up jersey sleeves to expose his arms. In team drills, Neal was matched up a number of times on new left tackle Bryan Bulaga and looked comfortable rushing from a two-point stance. I don't think anyone knows if Neal can drop back in coverage and I'm not sure the Packers intend to find out. His role could settle as a designated pass-rusher in certain schemes. Asked for his impressions of Neal, outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene said: "He's going to be a heck of a pass-rusher screaming off the corner, I know that. It just gives [defensive coordinator Dom Capers] more options as far as that goes."
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  AP Photo/Mike RoemerThe Packers are reshuffling their line, including flipping offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga from the right side to the left.
  Bulaga didn't look uncomfortable at left tackle, his college position at Iowa, but this week was a good reminder of the significance of what the Packers are attempting by flipping their guards and tackles this year. While Bulaga is the key to the changes, his presumably smooth transition won't matter if new left guard Josh Sitton, right guard T.J. Lang and right tackle Marshall Newhouse can't follow suit. "It's going good," Sitton said, "but it's something that's going to take time. For me, it's going to take time." Newhouse got most of the first-team snaps at right tackle that I saw. I'll have more on Bulaga later this summer.
• There is no evidence that a true competition will materialize for the No. 2 quarterback's job behind starter Aaron Rodgers. Third-stringer B.J. Coleman hasn't done anything to challenge incumbent Graham Harrell. Coach Mike McCarthy offered this polite assessment of Coleman: "Yeah, he's getting better. He's improved. I just want to see him play an actual game out. He needs to play."
• It was a bit concerning to see outside linebacker Nick Perry still wearing a brace on the injured wrist that ended his rookie season. But McCarthy said: "I would think if training camp was tomorrow, he would be ready." Perry appeared to be a full participant regardless, and his spring performance has reinforced the Packers' belief that he will take a big pass-rushing leap in 2013. "He looks so much smoother and athletic than he did as a rookie," McCarthy said. "A lot of that is the transition he was making. Nick is a powerful man." I'll have more on Perry, with comments from Greene, later this summer.
• Rookie Datone Jones was drafted as a 3-4 end, and at 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds, he looks like one. So it was interesting to see him lining up at tackle in the Packers' nickel. The Packers haven't had that big of an interior disruptor in a while. "That's one of my biggest attributes: being scheme versatile," Jones said. "When coaches put me in a position, I think I can make plays there."
• Randall Cobb seems the likeliest candidate to be the Packers' top receiver in 2013, but he was still working in the return game this week as well. McCarthy has said he prefers to take Cobb off of special teams, but he said this week that the final decision rests with Cobb's teammates. Someone will have to step up to the role before Cobb is officially relieved of his duties.

All we know for sure is that on May 21 -- more than two months before training camp and 109 days before the start of the regular season -- Mike Neal was working as an outside linebacker during a Green Bay Packers organized team activity (OTA).

Does that mean Neal has a new position? Or is this simply a spring experiment? I doubt even the Packers have an answer to that question yet.

Neal has been a defensive end for the past three years, and despite his well-chronicled athleticism, his listed weight of 294 pounds would be rare even in a 3-4 scheme. Based on his comments to local reporters Tuesday, Neal hasn't been asked to slim down or prepare in any other way for a new position.

Coach Mike McCarthy didn't provide specifics but seemed to confirm the Packers want to use Neal in different ways this season, referencing the way some teams ask defensive linemen to drop into coverage during zone blitzes.

Asked about having a 294-pound linebacker, McCarthy said: "It depends on how you use big guys in space. [You can have] a defensive end dropping in the fire zone, too. Schematically, we're going to do some different things. I want to expand Mike Neal's role. The specifics of that, I'm sure you can wait until Week 1 of the regular season to get into that."

Neal had his most productive season last year, finishing with 4.5 sacks, mostly because he was healthy enough to play in 11 games. But his path to a full-time role in 2013 is probably blocked, even with 2012 second-round pick Jerel Worthy recovering from an ACL tear. The Packers made defensive end Datone Jones their No. 1 draft pick last month, veteran Ryan Pickett is returning and the team plans to give Johnny Jolly a chance to resume his career after a three-year suspension.

Meanwhile, at least from the outside, the Packers seem set at outside linebacker with Clay Matthews, Nick Perry and Dezman Moses on the roster. Veteran Brad Jones has also played outside.

So what does this mean for Neal? The guess is the Packers want to use him in some of the hybrid roles that defensive coordinator Dom Capers is known for creating. The Minnesota Vikings attempted a similar experiment last season with defensive end Everson Griffen, who worked as a linebacker during part of training camp en route to a role that occasionally saw him working as a stand-up pass-rusher/linebacker.

In the end, this is the time of year to find out if a talented player can contribute in non-traditional ways, especially if the roster could be set up for others to fill the traditional roles. Mike Neal is athletic enough to do it. We'll see if he and the Packers can make it work.

As rosters shake out this summer, you'll hear a fair amount about the "youngest" and "oldest" teams in the NFL. Sometimes those figures and rankings can be skewed by aged kickers or an exceptionally youthful set of reserves, so I like what colleague Mike Sando compiled this week over on the NFC West blog.

Sando has a comprehensive chart ranking teams by the average age of their projected starters, ostensibly the most important 22 players on the roster. (Specialists weren't included, mostly because age isn't as relevant for them.) Naturally, there are some best guesses involved when you're looking at a starting lineup in May, but most teams have provided enough clues either through minicamps or organized team activities (OTAs) to make a reasonable projection.

As it turns out, the Chicago Bears have the NFL's oldest set of starters when viewed in this way. As it stands now, their starting defense includes four players who are at least 30 and two more who are 29. That figure could change if either (or both) of their two rookie linebackers, Jon Bostic (22) and Khaseem Greene (22) win a starting job. But for now, the Bears' starting linebackers are Lance Briggs (32), D.J. Williams (30) and James Anderson (29). They are set to play alongside defensive end Julius Peppers (33), cornerback Charles Tillman (32) and cornerback Tim Jennings (29).

The Detroit Lions rank No. 16 overall largely because their offensive starters are the NFL's sixth-oldest, headed by center Dominic Raiola (34), receiver Nate Burleson (31) and tight end Tony Scheffler (30). For the purposes of this projection, Corey Hilliard (28) is considered the right tackle over Jason Fox (25).

Meanwhile, starters from the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers rank among the NFL's nine youngest.

Making a value judgment here is much harder than compiling the figures. Younger isn't necessarily better, especially at key positions, unless it represents a longer-term fixture at the position. And in some cases, age represents the staying power of an elite player. For 2013, at least, I'm sure the Bears would prefer Briggs over, say, the Lions' DeAndre Levy (26) or the Packers' Nick Perry (23).

NFL team-building can be cyclical, however. What we can say, I think, is that teams with older starters have more urgency to identify and develop their next generation of players. Presumably, those with younger starters have already begun that process.

Related: The Packers and Vikings lead the division, respectively, with draft picks remaining on their roster.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Who is one potential breakout player for each NFC North team in 2013?

Chicago Bears: Receiver Alshon Jeffery missed six games last season and played only 41.2 percent of the team's offensive snaps, but he was the team's second-best receiver by the end of the season. Quarterback Jay Cutler trusted him on downfield throws, resulting in six receptions of more than 20 yards and two longer than 40, and with a full offseason of work, Jeffery will be a genuine 16-game threat in 2013. His 6-foot-3 frame gives him leverage against most defenders, but he does need to refine his technique after being called for four offensive pass interference penalties.

Detroit Lions: Defensive tackle Nick Fairley produced a dominant five-game stretch toward the end of the season after replacing Corey Williams in the starting lineup. That intense period included four sacks and 23 tackles, and now it's time for Fairley to put together an entire season with that kind of performance. He's capable of it, and it's what the Lions had in mind when they made him the No. 13 overall pick of the 2011 draft.

Green Bay Packers: You could make a strong argument for running back DuJuan Harris, whose late-season emergence makes him a candidate to start in 2013. But the Packers' annual backfield rotation makes it difficult to predict his future. In this case, we'll go with linebacker Nick Perry, who was the Packers' top draft choice in 2012 and thus will get an ample opportunity to be a full-time player. Perry showed some signs of pass-rushing emergence before wrist and knee injuries ended his rookie season after six games, finishing with a pair of sacks and losing another on a controversial penalty call while playing the Indianapolis Colts. A full offseason of linebacker training for the college defensive end should be a big help.

Minnesota Vikings: After relying on a high number of young players last season, the Vikings don't have many obvious candidates for this designation. It's hard to give it to defensive end/linebacker Everson Griffen, who finished the season with eight sacks, or tight end Kyle Rudolph, who caught half of the Vikings' total touchdown receptions (nine of 18). So we'll go with receiver Jarius Wright, who caught 22 passes over the final seven games, including deep shots of 65 and 54 yards. The trade of Percy Harvin will give Wright a chance to play in the slot, which appears to be his natural position.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A look at the top under-the-radar move made by each NFC North team thus far this offseason:

Chicago Bears: Sometimes it's the move you don't make that stands out. The Bears were in a tough spot with guard Lance Louis, who was having the best season of his career in 2012 when he tore an ACL. Unfortunately for both sides, the injury occurred in the final year of Louis' contract. It's generally not typical NFL practice to commit on a long-term contract to a player rehabilitating from an ACL injury. But Louis has a good-enough resume for another team to take a free-agent chance, and the Miami Dolphins offered a one-year deal worth $1.6 million. Louis' presumed replacement, Matt Slauson, will make about half of that total in 2013. We'll see whether the difference between in performance between the two players, if any, is worth the cash and cap savings.

Detroit Lions: It's difficult to classify the return of safety Louis Delmas as an "under-the-radar" move, considering his success when he has been healthy the past four years. But the way the Lions went about the process reflected confidence and an understanding of the market. Knowing he had struggled to complete last season because of a knee injury, the Lions sat back as Delmas took two free-agent visits. The chances of another team's making a lucrative offer to an oft-injured safety were not high. So after Delmas visited the St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers, the Lions signed him to a deal that will be lucrative only if he plays a full and healthy season in 2013.

Green Bay Packers: This isn't the most active time of year for general manager Ted Thompson, but at least one relatively quiet move bears continued inspection. Linebacker Brad Jones received a three-year contract that will pay him at least $4 million in 2013. That's a big total for a player who projects mostly as a special teams contributor unless starters are injured. It makes you wonder whether the Packers are concerned about the recoveries of one or more of the following linebackers: Desmond Bishop, D.J. Smith and Nick Perry. If the Packers aren't planning for Jones to play regularly on defense in 2013, it's difficult to understand the contract figures.

Minnesota Vikings: Re-signing fullback Jerome Felton was all but a requirement after the impact he made on Adrian Peterson's historic 2012 season. As we've discussed, Peterson averaged about twice as many yards per carry out of a two-back set as he did when he ran without a lead blocker. Fullbacks aren't used by many teams and aren't heavily pursued in free agency, but the Vikings made sure to avoid a defection by giving Felton a $2 million signing bonus and total compensation of $3 million for 2013.

The Seattle Seahawks added defensive end Chris Clemons and kicker Steven Hauschka to their injured reserve lists this week.

Rookie Bruce Irvin, the 15th overall choice in the draft, will start in Clemons' place. Recently signed veteran Ryan Longwell will handle kicking duties for Hauschka.

Those moves led me to compile IR lists for remaining NFC playoff teams. I used the reserve lists at Ourlads.com, which updates its rosters daily.

» NFC Season Wraps: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five things to know and my 2012 all-division team:

Division MVP: If your definition of this award is the player who has the most impact on his team's winning percentage, then our MVP is Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. If your MVP is the player who had the best season, then it's Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson. I lean toward the first definition, so Rodgers is the choice. He was the one elite constant in an injury-ravaged season that limited most of the team's top players. Rodgers has helped cover for 24 missed games by defensive back Charles Woodson, linebacker Clay Matthews and receivers Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson. Along the way, he helped receiver Randall Cobb approach stardom and fed 13 touchdown passes to former No. 4 receiver James Jones -- and he still is leading the NFL in passer rating (106.2). Rodgers might not have matched his 2011 MVP performance, but he was the most important player on the division's top team. Peterson has had a career year by all accounts, but he has actually been more productive in the Vikings' wins than their losses. Quarterback Christian Ponder's play has been more closely tied to the Vikings' winning percentage. Honorable mention: Lions receiver Calvin Johnson overcame a midseason spate of injuries to himself and most of his fellow receivers to set the NFL record for receiving yards in a season. Johnson has 1,892 yards and can become the NFL's most productive receiver on a per-game basis in a season with 104 yards Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

Biggest disappointment: The Detroit Lions brought back 21 of 22 starters from last season's 10-6 team and assumed their young nucleus would continue to improve. Instead, the Lions stumbled to a mistake-filled abomination of a year that will lead to a difficult offseason. Among the issues: They have effected a 23-point swing in their takeaway/giveaway ratio from 2011. Opponents have 10 touchdown returns via special teams, fumbles and interceptions. The Lions have committed a division-high 118 penalties. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has taken a step back, especially in his drop from 41 to 17 touchdown passes, and has an untenable $20.3 million salary-cap charge for 2013 that will have to be adjusted. Meanwhile, most of the Lions' defensive starters -- including both outside linebackers and their entire secondary -- are eligible for free agency after the season.

Draft help: By intent or chance, the Packers demonstrated this year that it's possible to draft for need and get immediate help despite annual warnings from football gurus that the approach is short-sighted. Disappointed with the performance of their 2011 defense, the Packers used their first six draft picks on defensive players. Five of them have been significant contributors. First-round linebacker Nick Perry had two sacks in six games before suffering knee and wrist injuries. Cornerback Casey Hayward has been one of the NFL's better cornerbacks, producing six interceptions and 26 pass breakups. Safety Jerron McMillian is a part of the nickel rotation, and defensive linemen Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels have combined for 4.5 sacks. The Packers have also gotten a productive season from undrafted rookie linebacker Dezman Moses, who has four sacks. In all, the Packers rank No. 10 in the NFL in total defense (329.6 yards per game allowed) and No. 7 in scoring defense (19.9 points per game allowed). Their goal of injecting youth and energy has been accomplished.

Ponder's future: At his best, Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder has been efficient this season. At his worst, he has played like a career backup. But there are a number of factors suggesting Ponder will be back in 2013 as the Vikings' unquestioned starter. One is his recent upswing, which includes a 96.9 Total Quarterback Rating (QBR) in Week 15 and a 78.5 QBR in Week 16. Both were top-10 performances in the league during the respective weeks. Another is the relatively poor class of quarterbacks in the 2013 draft along with a limited set of options in free agency. This week, coach Leslie Frazier told ESPN 1500 this week, "I don't know any scenario that's going to come up to say, 'You know what? We need to be looking for a replacement for Christian in the offseason.'" Ponder is a good leader and has proved an explosive scrambler at times, ranking fourth among NFL quarterbacks with four rushes of at least 20 yards. But given the quarterbacks in Green Bay, Detroit and Chicago, it's difficult to project Ponder as anything more than the fourth-best quarterback in this division for the foreseeable future.

Whither Bears? The Chicago Bears opened the season with Super Bowl hopes and roared to a 7-1 start. Their 2-5 record since then has brought them to an organizational crossroads. They could still qualify for the playoffs, and perhaps they will make a run once they get there. But that wouldn't erase the issues that have arisen, most notably an aging defense that might lose middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, a pending free agent who has slowed noticeably at age 34. Meanwhile, the Bears' offense became a two-man team between quarterback Jay Cutler and receiver Brandon Marshall. They got almost no production from the rest of their pass-catchers -- Marshall has 72 more receptions than their second-most productive player -- and tailback Matt Forte was slowed by injuries. Forte had 12 runs of at least 20 yards in 2011 but has managed only six this season in about the same number of carries. Finally, the Bears slogged through a third consecutive season with a patchwork offensive line that still has more questions than answers. Whether or not they make the playoffs, the Bears will have to address those issues in order to be a more consistent team in 2013.

A few notes on the 2012 All-NFC North team below:

• As I did for the midseason team, I chose three receivers and deleted the fullback position. Vikings fullback Jerome Felton had a great season at his position, and there is no doubt he had a big impact on Peterson's performance. But through 15 weeks, Felton has played about 38 percent of the Vikings' offensive snaps. We have more flexibility with these teams than, say, Pro Bowl voters do. So I decided to take advantage and use the spot on someone who has been closer to a full-time player.
• This division is so deep at receiver that good players fell short despite the extra spot. The Lions' Johnson and the Bears' Marshall were obvious choices, and for the third position I chose the Packers' Cobb. I know how many touchdown passes Jones caught, but on the whole, Cobb has been the Packers' best receiver. Not only does he lead the team with 80 receptions for 954 yards along with 8 touchdowns, but he has also caught an NFL-high 78.4 percent of the passes Rodgers threw him according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Cobb has been an exceptional open-field runner, piling up nearly half of his yards after the catch and forcing opponents to miss 15 tackles according to PFF.
• I considered dropping the tight end position as well so that I could add Jones and give us four receivers. But Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph has had a recognition-worthy season. Rudolph has more touchdown receptions (nine) than all NFL tight ends except the New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski. He has a higher percentage of his team's total receiving touchdowns (60) than any other NFL player, the fourth-highest percentage in the past 20 NFL seasons. His other numbers (51 receptions for 473 yards) are less impressive, but you have to put them in context of the Vikings' passing offense, which ranks No. 32 in the NFL in terms of yards. Rudolph has actually accounted for a higher percentage of the Vikings' yardage (18.7) than Gronkowski (17.2).
• My original team had four defensive tackles, with Nick Fairley (Lions) and B.J. Raji (Packers) joining Henry Melton (Bears) and Ndamukong Suh (Lions). I thought that quartet represented the best four defensive linemen in the division for much of this season, even though none of them play defensive end. But late surges from veteran ends Jared Allen (Vikings) and Julius Peppers (Bears) made me rethink the decision. Peppers now has 11.5 sacks and Allen has 11. It's tough to leave players off an all-division team if they have double-digit sack totals. There are only 15 players in the league with 10 or more sacks at the moment.
• Once again, I eliminated a safety spot to give us extra room for an exceptional crop of cornerbacks. The Bears' Tim Jennings and Charles Tillman were no-brainers, and that still left the Packers' Hayward competing with teammate Tramon Williams and the Vikings' Antoine Winfield. I chose Hayward because of how consistently he has turned away challenges from the opposition. He was an obvious target as a rookie, but he responded with the NFL's fifth-most interceptions and third-most pass breakups.
• Finally, here are links to All-NFC North teams in previous seasons: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008.

You know how we are around here. We don't like to live in the moment. We want to look ahead, to anticipate what's next, to project and speculate and prognosticate. When at all possible, we look for deep meaning and revealing symbolism in everyday events.

Week 15 provides us an opportunity to do just that. So I'll introduce this sentiment for your consideration: Sunday's game at Soldier Field could put the competitive rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers on hiatus for several years.

A Packers victory would be their fifth consecutive win over the Bears, including the 2010 postseason. More importantly, it would clinch the Packers' second consecutive NFC North title. And while the Packers appear poised for continued success, the Bears could soon be jolted into a significant overhaul this winter.

A division championship would validate the Packers' re-tooling effort, one that has centered around getting younger on defense. A loss for the Bears could leave them needing help to get into the playoffs even if they win out and finish at 10-6. (ESPN.com's Playoff Machine will show you how they could lose a tiebreaker to the Washington Redskins at 10-6.)

Thus the Bears would be at risk of becoming the second team in the 23-season history of this playoff format to miss the postseason after a 7-1 start, a collapse that would pile a number of difficult decisions on the desk of general manager Phil Emery. Topping his list would be the status of coach Lovie Smith, but this season has also exposed the Bears' aging defense as well as their continued inability to find continuity on their offensive line.

Emery's course for the franchise will hinge in part on whether he re-signs quarterback Jay Cutler, whose contract will expire after the 2013 season. Cutler mused about various possibilities during his ESPN 1000 radio show Monday and acknowledged the franchise's path isn't clear.

"I don't know how they feel about me and where they see the franchise going," Cutler said. "You get a new GM in and we'll see how it goes. He's got a lot of tough decisions coming forward. ..."

It's hard to imagine the Bears parting ways with Cutler under any circumstances. But Brian Urlacher's physical fade in the past year illustrates why Emery might want to plan more aggressively for the eventual departure of linebacker Lance Briggs, cornerback Charles Tillman and defensive end Julius Peppers. He will also need to re-evaluate the franchise's in-house strategy for building an offensive line. For three consecutive seasons, the Bears have fielded a patchwork group that has left Cutler battered. In 2011 and 2012 alone, 10 different linemen have made at least one start.

From a big-picture perspective, the biggest gap between the Bears and Packers is that Cutler has been forced into the role of the Bears' sole difference-maker while the Packers have reduced their reliance on quarterback Aaron Rodgers. One piece of surprising evidence: Rodgers has thrown only two touchdown passes in his past three games, the fewest over any three-game stretch of his career, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Instead, the Packers are building a running game based on patience, if nothing else. They have averaged 135.8 rushing yards over their past five games, giving carries to five different running backs over that period in what has amounted to a mini tryout. And of the six defensive players the Packers selected at the top of the 2012 draft, four are part of the regular rotation and a fifth -- linebacker Nick Perry -- would be were it not for a season-ending wrist injury.

The Bears have a much shorter list of young building blocks at this point. Of the 56 players on their active roster or injured reserve, you could count maybe six as established and credible starters who will be under the age of 28 next season. That list includes defensive tackle Henry Melton, guard Lance Louis, receiver Earl Bennett, safeties Major Wright and Chris Conte, and receiver Alshon Jeffery.

These issues will exist whether or not the Bears win Sunday, and they won't dissipate even if they go on to win the Super Bowl. But a loss would be the Bears' fifth in six games, a year after they dropped five of their final six to scuttle a 7-3 start. That might be enough to spur the kind of sea change we haven't seen in Chicago in a decade, one that cedes divisional competitiveness for a stretch.

Just a thought. We'll be here all week.

Reviewing the Green Bay Packers at their bye:

Record: 6-3

Nine-game capsule: The Packers have put themselves in the thick of playoff contention after an unexpected and unsettling 2-3 start. Their final-play loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3, on what surely was the last call made by a replacement official for as long as the NFL exists, could have been a season-defining moment. Instead it has become an afterthought. (Unless and until it impacts the Packers' postseason standing, of course.) The Packers have reeled off four consecutive victories since an Oct. 7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. A slew of injuries, however, has changed the complexion of this team and suggests it might need to grind out victories like never before.

MVP: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been the first to acknowledge he hasn't played at the same historic level he did last season. In his most recent game, last Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, Rodgers couldn't so much as complete 50 percent of his passes. But it would be difficult to identify a player more responsible for putting the Packers back on track. His six-touchdown performance against the Houston Texans, coming a week after the Colts loss, redirected the season. During the winning streak, he has 15 touchdown passes and one interception. That's a ratio of one touchdown pass for every six completions, which is actually higher than his completions-touchdown ratio last season (1:7.62). Finally, Rodgers has taken on a larger leadership role during the injury absence of cornerback Charles Woodson. He has the Packers exactly where they would hope to be in Week 10: With a good enough record to challenge for the NFC North title during their final seven games. Runner-up: Receiver James Jones, who has helped the Packers overcome injuries to other receivers by catching eight touchdown passes, tied for the most in the NFL, while not dropping a single pass thrown his way. Honorable mention: Receiver Randall Cobb, who has emerged with five touchdowns in the past three games, and leads the team with 45 receptions.

Biggest surprise: Tight end Jermichael Finley, once touted as a key to the Packers' high-flying hopes, has largely disappeared from the offense. He has averaged 9.3 yards on 29 catches and hasn't scored since Week 1. There would seem to be big plays available to tight ends in the Packers' offense, as evidenced by backup Tom Crabtree's scoring plays of 72 and 48 yards, but Finley isn't making them. He has dropped anywhere between four and seven passes, depending on the statistical service you reference, and has seen his playing time dwindle from 86 percent of the Packers' snaps in Week 1 to 50 percent in Week 9. He has no reported injuries and is still only 25 years old, which suggests his previous production can still be drawn out of him. At the moment, though, it doesn't appear the Packers have much confidence in Finley.

Stat to note: Through nine games, the Packers have lost 40 starts from players who either opened the summer atop the team's depth chart or replaced those who have been hurt. Some of those injuries have been short-term, but the Packers are looking at returning from their bye without four starting linebackers -- Desmond Bishop, D.J. Smith, Nick Perry and Clay Matthews. As well, they won't have right tackle Bryan Bulaga, running back Cedric Benson, receiver Greg Jennings, and Woodson, at least not right away.

Bonus stat to note: The Packers' defense is on pace to shave 900 yards off the record-setting total of 4,796 passing yards it allowed last season. Moving Woodson to safety in the base defense, and injecting six rookies into the regular rotation, has given the defense new energy and bodes well for continued improvement in the second half.

Looking ahead: The Packers have the sixth-most difficult schedule remaining in the NFL, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. They have five division games remaining, including a potential title-clinching game Dec. 19 at the Chicago Bears, and will play two of their final three games on the road.

By the bye series: Our post on the Detroit Lions is here and the Chicago Bears is here.

ESPN.com's midseason extravaganza continued Thursday with some Insider analysis from Scout Inc.'s Matt Williamson. You can see an updated list of his 50 top players as well as his all-rookie team.

You'll need an insider subscription to see both files, but I'd like to dive into Williamson's analysis of rookie play. Five NFC North rookies appear in some form, and while I don't think he left off anyone obvious, now is probably a good time to review our class of rookies now that everyone has played at least eight games.

We'll start with the players Williamson included and go from there. Players Williamson named to his first team are noted with an asterisk (*). Those he included as an honorable mention get a plus sign (+).

Player: Minnesota Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil*
Seifert comment: Kalil has solidified what was a position of weakness last season. You haven't heard much about him this season, and with left tackles, that's a good thing. Pro Football Focus (PFF) has debited him with one sack allowed this season.

Player: Vikings safety Harrison Smith*
Seifert comment: Smith has injected a level of energy and playmaking the Vikings haven't had at safety in several years. He's been credited with 52 tackles and has one interception, which he returned for a touchdown.

Player: Green Bay Packers cornerback Casey Hayward*
Seifert comment: Hayward has made three starts and leads all rookies with four interceptions and 13 passes defensed. It will be interesting to see what the Packers do when Sam Shields returns from a shin injury.

Player: Vikings place-kicker Blair Walsh+
Seifert comment: If it weren't for St. Louis Rams rookie Greg Zuerlein, Walsh would be the pick here. He's connected on 19 of 20 field goal attempts, including all five from 50-plus yards, and leads the NFL with 35 touchbacks.

Player: Packers safety Jerron McMillian+
Seifert comment: McMillian hasn't started a game, but has been part of the rotation at safety in the nickel defense. He's been a sure tackler and has one interception.

Player: Detroit Lions offensive lineman Riley Reiff
Seifert comment: Reiff hasn't been needed at offensive line, so the Lions have carved out an interesting niche as a sixth lineman/tight end to help their running game. He played on nearly half their snaps last Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Player: Lions receiver Ryan Broyles
Seifert comment: Broyles didn't have a reception until the Lions lost veteran Nate Burleson to a broken leg. Since that point, he has 12 receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

Player: Lions cornerback Bill Bentley
Seifert comment: Bentley started three games before a shoulder injury ended his season. It would appear he is in the mix to start next season.

Player: Chicago Bears defensive end Shea McClellin
Seifert comment: He has 2.5 sacks while playing on 44.2 percent of the Bears' snaps. That's about the playing time we expected the Bears to give him as a rookie.

Player: Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery
Seifert comment: Jeffery was emerging as the Bears' No. 2 receiver when he broke his hand in Week 5. At that point, he had scored two touchdowns among his 14 receptions.

Player: Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson
Seifert comment: Won the Vikings' nickel job, but did not elevate to a starting role when Chris Cook was lost to a wrist injury. That job has gone to veteran A.J. Jefferson. He has one interception, and the Vikings don't want to give him too much to handle.

Player: Packers defensive lineman Jerel Worthy
Seifert comment: Worthy has two sacks in eight games and has played 59 percent of the Packers' snaps.

Player: Packers linebacker Nick Perry
Seifert comment: Perry had two sacks in six games before wrist and knee injuries ended his season. He started five of those games, but was rotating with Erik Walden and Dezman Moses. All in all, the Packers' top pick had an incomplete rookie season.

As we noted last month, we've done away with the weekly Stock Watch post and instead will hit it after every quarter of the season. Here's what we posted after every NFC North team had played four games, and below is our assessment now that everyone has played at least half of the games on their 2012 schedule. I'm such a happy guy that I went crazy and shifted a slot from our "Falling" category to "Rising" to reflect the fact that all four of our teams are at least .500 at the moment. The glass is half-full up in here.

FALLING

1. Minnesota Vikings' vision: The most important task facing the Vikings this season was not challenging for a postseason spot, something a 5-3 record through eight games put them in position to do. Instead, it was developing and cementing quarterback Christian Ponder as their long-term answer at the position. Ponder made clear progress during training camp and played efficiently in the Vikings' conservative structure early this season. But a slump has now extended to five games, lowlighted by a pair of sub-70 yard efforts, and raised an uncomfortable specter. If Ponder can't straighten himself out, his second NFL season will be a failure. The Vikings' long-term plan centers around his successful development. Would they give him an unchallenged third season to prove himself? Or would they need to start considering contingency plans? NFL franchises are lost without a quarterback, putting the Vikings at a critical point under their current leadership.

2. Health in Green Bay: Nearly half of the Green Bay Packers' Week 1 lineup has missed at least one game because of injuries. All told, the Packers have lost 40 starts from players who were either listed as the starters on the team's opening depth chart or moved into that role as a result of other injuries. They face a post-bye landscape without receiver Greg Jennings, right tackle Bryan Bulaga, running back Cedric Benson, linebackers Nick Perry and Clay Matthews, and cornerback Charles Woodson, for various periods of time. Receiver Jordy Nelson's status is uncertain. Optimists recall the Packers won the Super Bowl two years ago with 15 players on injured reserve. A realist would wonder how likely it is to repeat that feat under such circumstances.

RISING

1. Cornerbacks in Chicago: Even in a passing league, NFL teams have devalued the cornerback position in favor of pass rushers in recent years. Conventional wisdom has suggested that rules inhibiting aggressive coverage made pressure a better defensive weapon. But the Chicago Bears have proved otherwise this season, getting dominant performances from cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings both in coverage and playmaking. Their coverage has helped the Bears' pass rush compile an NFL-high 21 sacks from a standard four-man alignment, and as playmakers they've contributed a combined eight interceptions, three touchdowns, 21 defensed passes and seven forced fumbles. Oh, and they're combining to earn $6.55 million this season. That might have to change between now and the start of the 2013 season.

2. Scott Linehan, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator: The Lions have faced considerable criticism for not forcing more downfield passes against defenses who are blatantly aligned to stop those plays. That strength-on-strength argument sounds good around the water cooler, but it's a suicidal long-term approach. Linehan and coach Jim Schwartz understood that and, from the beginning, have insisted on a traditional antidote: The running game. Personnel shortages made that difficult earlier this season, but the emergence of Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell provide hope for the second half of the season. The two combined for 149 yards on 29 carries last Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Leshoure scored three touchdowns. Linehan deserves credit for maintaining a sane thought process amid early season panic around the team. A successful running game might not force radical defensive changes, but it will give the Lions a reliable way to move the ball and score if they don't.

3. Adrian Peterson, Vikings running back: Exactly 315 days ago, Peterson's left knee was a mangled mess. We've already noted his stunning comeback, but it's worth updating after his 182-yard performance last Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. In his past three games alone, Peterson has amassed 458 yards and four touchdowns, including breakaway runs of 74 and 64 yards. He leads the NFL in rushing yards (his total of 957 this season is 163 more than the NFL's next-most productive running back), yards from scrimmage (1,107), yards per carry (5.7), yards after contact (515) and runs of at least 20 yards (11). His comeback has been no less impressive than that of Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, and his recovery came in less than half the time.

4. Jay Cutler, Bears quarterback: From this vantage point, Cutler made substantial progress on multiple fronts over the past month. We got to the point where Cutler's quirks and sideline exchanges became a matter of course rather than cause for personality debates. We acknowledged how good he has been in clutch situations. And now we should note that the Bears are 12-1 in Cutler's past 13 starts dating to last season. Since the start of the 2010 season, in fact, the Bears have a .750 winning percentage in his starts (24-9). For reference, the Packers have a .769 winning percentage under quarterback Aaron Rodgers in that same span.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers extended their winning streak to four games Sunday at Lambeau Field, entering their bye with a 6-3 record that puts them squarely in the NFC's playoff race. You might not believe me, however, if I told you how.

The Packers lost three more starters to injury, one of which caused a reshuffling of their offensive line. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed less than 50 percent of his passes for only the fourth time in his career, saying afterward that his best play was a second-quarter fumble recovery. The Packers scored a touchdown when two receivers inadvertently flipped their assignments, and another came when backup tight end Tom Crabtree got behind the Arizona Cardinals' defense for the Packers' longest play of the season -- a 72-yard (!) catch-and-run that accounted for the final score of a 31-17 victory.

That turn of events in no way matches the blueprint this team has used in past success, and it wasn't what the Packers intended for 2012, either. But there are times in a season when it doesn't matter how or why you win. The Packers just completed one of those stretches, and here is the bottom line: Only five of the NFL's 32 teams have a better record than the Packers.

"We're finding ways to win," receiver James Jones said. Added defensive tackle Ryan Pickett: "We've got some fighters. We've got a lot of fighters. Guys are going down. Guys are stepping up. It shows we have a lot of character. We're not missing a beat. We can't wait to get all of our players back, but our guys are playing real good."

The Packers haven't missed a beat in terms of winning percentage, but they're clearly not functioning at the same level as in their Week 6 domination of the Houston Texans -- when this run of injuries largely began. Sunday, the Packers had receiver Jordy Nelson for less than a quarter before he departed with an ankle injury. Right tackle Bryan Bulaga (hip) left in the second quarter, forcing T.J. Lang to move to right tackle and elevating Evan Dietrich-Smith to left guard. Linebacker Clay Matthews, meanwhile, appeared to injure his hamstring early in the game and departed for good in the third quarter.

Rodgers threw four touchdown passes, including a 13-yarder to Randall Cobb in the first quarter after Cobb and Donald Driver switched their assigned spots at the line. Overall, however, Rodgers completed only 14 of 30 passes and said: "I was just off today."

The offense couldn't manage a first down on its first four series of the second half, allowing the Cardinals to creep to within 24-17 after trailing 21-7 at halftime. But the Packers of late have been like a downhill stream, flowing wherever gravity will take them, and on Sunday they produced a play that for me was symbolic of this winning streak.

Rodgers had targeted Crabtree on only five passes over the Packers' first eight games, but on Sunday they put him in position to capitalize on a play they had been setting up all afternoon. The Packers set season highs with 176 rushing yards on 39 carries, a balance that caught the Cardinals' linebackers off guard when Rodgers faked a handoff to running back Alex Green on the final play of the third quarter.

The play-action allowed Crabtree, also lined up in the backfield, to slip past linebacker Paris Lenon on a seam route. Crabtree spent the next 45 yards looking over both shoulders for a Cardinals defender to catch him. None did, giving Crabtree the longest catch by a Packers tight end in 33 years.

"That's kind of my mentality, I guess," Crabtree said. "I'm not going to get many opportunities. When I do, take advantage of them. We have a lot of guys like that on the team."

There's no doubt about that, but at the same time, it's only fair to point out the Packers picked up half of their victories in this streak against the Cardinals, who have lost five consecutive games, and the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are now 1-7. My sense is the Packers realize they are fortunate to be have minimized the damage of what could have been a season-ending run of adversity. After all, here is the list of players who were unavailable to them at the end of Sunday's game: Bulaga, Matthews, Nelson, Greg Jennings, Charles Woodson, Cedric Benson, Desmond Bishop, D.J. Smith, Nick Perry and John Kuhn.

"We're not ones to make excuses," Rodgers said. "But we'll be happy to get some of those guys back."

The Packers were much healthier, in fact, during their 2-3 start. They should be especially proud of their past month. But the season is about to get much tougher, with five of their six division games coming in a stretch that begins Nov. 18 at the Detroit Lions. I'm not convinced, and I don't think the Packers are either, that they can get where they want to go by replicating the past month. They won't get away with a completion percentage of less than 50 percent or needing a 72-yard touchdown from their backup tight end to clinch a game.

"We had some adversity earlier in the season," Rodgers said. "We've taken some heat and pulled us together. We went on the kind of run we needed to go on. We've had four big wins before the bye, and now we have to get healthy. We've got a lot of guys we can add back to the mix.

"We could really take off."

The Packers have given themselves a chance to have a chance. After the past month, they couldn't have asked for anything more.

Let's get inside the Friday injury report in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: Receiver Alshon Jeffery (hand) is the only player on the Bears' 53-man roster who won't be available for Sunday's game at the Tennessee Titans.

Detroit Lions: Receiver Calvin Johnson (knee) missed practice for the third consecutive day and is listed as probable, but indications are that he will be available for Sunday's game at the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Lions ruled out safeties Louis Delmas (knee) and Amari Spievey (concussion). Linebacker DeAndre Levy (hamstring) participated in a portion of practice and is questionable.

Green Bay Packers: Receiver Jordy Nelson tested his hamstring Friday morning but did not practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Packers declared six players out: Receiver Greg Jennings (groin), fullback John Kuhn (hamstring), linebacker Nick Perry (knee) cornerback Sam Shields (shin), cornerback Charles Woodson (collarbone) and defensive end Jerel Worthy (concussion). Safety Jerron McMillian had a sore back Friday, did not practice and is listed as questionable.

Minnesota Vikings: Tailback Adrian Peterson (ankle) sat out practice but will play Sunday at the Seattle Seahawks. Receiver Percy Harvin (family issue) returned to practice. Tight end John Carlson (concussion) won't play. Safety Mistral Raymond (ankle) is listed as questionable, but should be available for limited work.

Let's get inside this week's Friday injury report, which also includes an update on a player who was injured Thursday night:

Chicago Bears: All players except receiver Alshon Jeffery (hand) should be available for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. Quarterback Jay Cutler (ribs) was a full participant in Friday's practice. Tight end Brody Eldridge was listed as questionable because of illness.

Detroit Lions: The Lions ruled out safety Amari Spievey and cornerback Jacob Lacey, both of whom are dealing with concussions. Linebacker DeAndre Levy (hamstring) is doubtful and will be replaced by Ashlee Palmer on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Cornerback Bill Bentley (shoulder) is questionable and it's not clear if he'll be ready for this game.

Green Bay Packers: Fullback John Kuhn (hamstring) was ruled out of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. So was cornerback Sam Shields (shin) and linebacker Nick Perry (knee). It appears nose tackle B.J. Raji (ankle) is ready to play. He is listed as probable. The biggest uncertainty is receiver Jordy Nelson (hamstring) who sat out practice for the second consecutive day and is listed as questionable. Nelson will be tested Sunday morning.

Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback Chris Cook was diagnosed with a fractured right arm and was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return. Coach Leslie Frazier acknowledged that Cook isn't likely to be ready to play until a possible playoff game, however. The Vikings might sign another cornerback, but for now everyone on the roster takes a step forward. Josh Robinson will start, A.J. Jefferson will play in the nickel and Marcus Sherels likely will be the dime back.

Remember when I told you I would be away from the blog for a bit while navigating the Chicagoland rain to Soldier Field? That plan got delayed a bit by the news, first reported by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, that Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson will miss six weeks because of a broken left collarbone.

There was no mention of Woodson's injury during or after the Packers' 30-20 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, although he did not play on the final series, as Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette points out. Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com noted that Woodson grabbed his shoulder and writhed on the ground while defending receiver Brandon Gibson late in the fourth quarter.

Woodson injured his left collarbone, the same one that he injured in Super Bowl XLV. It's not clear if his latest injury is as serious; six weeks is on the low end of a return timetable for a fully fractured collarbone. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Woodson will miss at least a month.

Regardless, there are a handful of indispensable players on the Packers' roster, and Woodson is one of them.

The Packers have done well to find workable alternatives for injured linebackers Desmond Bishop, D.J. Smith and Nick Perry. The Packers also have managed the losses of nose tackle B.J. Raji, receiver Greg Jennings, running back Cedric Benson and cornerback Sam Shields, much as they did during their run to the Super Bowl in 2010. But even if Woodson is no longer in his playmaking prime at age 36, he is still a unique and valuable rock amid the transition the Packers' defense has undergone this season. It will be impossible to replace the veteran leadership and versatility Woodson has brought.

Woodson might have only one interception and five defensed passes this season, but he has played the fourth-most snaps (95.9 percent) on the defense this season after safety Morgan Burnett, linebacker Clay Matthews and cornerback Tramon Williams. Along the way, he has made the transition to safety in the base defense while working as a slot cornerback in the nickel. That means the Packers will have to replace him with different people in multiple packages. Either M.D. Jennings or Jerron McMillian will take his place at safety, and then the Packers will have to choose between Davon House and Jarrett Bush at cornerback as long as rookie Casey Hayward is filling in for Shields.

Just as important, Woodson has once again joined with quarterback Aaron Rodgers to provide the Packers with locker-room leadership as strong as any team in the NFL.

This sky isn't falling in Green Bay. The Packers have a way of navigating this type of adversity. But this injury will hurt more than most. Charles Woodson sits at the soul of this team, and for the moment it's empty.

Coach Mike McCarthy is scheduled to speak with reporters at 4 p.m. ET. I will check back in when I arrive at Soldier Field.