NFC North dominance 'pretty crazy,' but Bears vow to focus on selves
It’s early, but the NFC North is the best division in football.
Had the season ended Monday morning, all four teams would’ve been in the playoffs. The Lions would be the No. 1 seed, with the Vikings, Packers and Bears making up the conference’s wild-card selections.
Three NFL teams have six losses this season; the NFC North has six combined.
“Everyone [else] in our division has five wins,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus said Monday. “Those guys are up and coming here shortly, but it’s important that we focus on ourselves.”
The 5-1 Lions hold the tiebreaker against the Vikings after winning in Minneapolis on Sunday. The Packers are 5-2 and the Bears 4-2.
“It’s pretty crazy, right?” linebacker T.J. Edwards said. “Obviously, we know those teams pretty well. But it’s good football being played right now. [Sunday] was probably the first time we got to sit down . . . and watch some football for a second, and it’s at a high level right now, man. So we’re excited for this stretch we have coming up, for sure.”
The Bears play all six divisional games between Weeks 11-18.
Brisker still in protocol
Safety Jaquan Brisker remained in concussion protocol Monday, 15 days after he was injured while tackling Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble in a play that left both players concussed.
Brisker didn’t report concussion symptoms until the next day. He was left off the team flight to London for the Jaguars game and was ruled out for the game two days later.
“He’s got a couple more steps to go,” Eberflus said. “But it looks good.”
Brisker is in his third year but has an extensive concussion history. He was put in protocol last year after reporting symptoms while he had an unrelated illness. He was concussed as a rookie, too.
Possible trade?
Eberflus demurred when asked whether Nate Davis, who was a healthy scratch against the Jaguars, could be a trade candidate by the league’s Nov. 5 deadline. It might prove tough. He’s Pro Football Focus’ 62nd-ranked guard and has played only 142 snaps.
“During this time when you’re leading up to the trade deadline, you’re always going to have guys that are in the conversation for those trade talks,” Eberflus said. “I’m not going to talk about particular players or players that we’re looking at potentially, but that’s always going to be the case. It’s part of the business. As an NFL player, you know that. It’s just part of that time that we’re in right now.”
Any move could be tied to the return of Ryan Bates, who has been on injured reserve with shoulder and elbow problems. Eberflus said the Bears got a good report on him Monday and could clear him to return to practice soon.
“He is close,” he said.
Snap decisions
Long snapper Scott Daly, who hurt his knee against the Jaguars, participated in the Bears’ walkthrough. The Bears added insurance at the position last week when they signed Jake McQuaide, 36, who has snapped in 190 games, to the practice squad. Eberflus said the team was hopeful that longtime snapper Patrick Scales, who’s recovering from back surgery, could return sometime this year, too.
Tight end Cole Kmet, of course, had to snap once Daly got hurt and was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
“I think there might be some pretty [ticked-off] long snappers throughout the league,’’ Kmet said with a smile. “There were a few in the [Bears’] locker room. No, they’re all happy for me about it.”