Around the NFC North: Training Camp Watchlist

We've almost made it. 

Our long national nightmare is almost over: veterans from most teams will have reported by mid-next week. Today, we're going to go over some of the key items to focus on during training camp for each of the inferior teams. 

Vikings

  • Maybe the biggest news in the division will be whether Kyler Murray is the clear starter and if he looks like peak Kyler Murray or if his small stature and repeated NFL hits have taken away his burst. 
  • Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason will headline the other big camp battle; sadly, neither of them is that great at this point, and both are injury-prone. Whoever comes out of camp healthy may win the job by default. 
  • How Dallas Turner performs and what depth the team has behind him are huge questions. Can Turner prove that he was worthy of a first-round pick? Will anyone step up behind him? 

Bears

  • What the hell are they doing at left tackle and will Taylor Decker show up right before camp starts? 
  • WR 3 is definitely going to be a battle, but maybe the real question is whether it really matters. Luther Burden is very good, and Rome Odunze is a former first-round pick, so they'll be the top two receivers. How many plays will the Bears even run with a third receiver? Is the third receiver a true slot receiver or a backup for one of those two? 
  • Number two edge is the biggest battle on defense. If Odeyingbo and Booker both have home run off-seasons, could Montez Sweat be relegated to third edge? 

Lions

  • What's happening with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph out? (And Terrion Arnold gone altogether). The Lions' secondary is going to look a lot different in training camp and the beginning of the season. 
  • How's the d-line doing? Alim McNeil got paid and then had a meh season last year. Aidan Hutchinson is one year off a torn Achilles. Who will be the second DT? Who will be the second edge? And third edge? 
  • How is Penei Sewell doing at left tackle, and who is the starter at right tackle? The Lions are taking a pretty big swing by moving Sewell over. They don't want to make two positions worse. 

 

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Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan who recently moved from Utah to Stoughton (a Madison suberb). You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.

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Comments (2)

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barutanseijin's picture

July 21, 2026 at 02:18 pm

Kyler Murray has his faults, but he’s gotta be an improvement over Jj McCarthy — unless he gets hurt, which is a distinct possibility.

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Starrbrite's picture

July 21, 2026 at 06:36 pm

Agree

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