NFC North Rundown: Everson Griffen returns to Minnesota amid 80-man roster decisions

Although this afternoon marks the next roster deadline for NFL teams to trim their rosters to 80 players, many teams in the division have already gotten a head start.

The Green Bay Packers traded Ka’Dar Hollman and are anticipated to make a somewhat surprising cut in Kamal Martin as today’s deadline rolls along. Outside of Titletown, Detroit and Minnesota already cut their rosters down to the 80-man threshold on Sunday and the Vikings made a low-risk signing to bring back former Pro Bowler Everson Griffen to bolster their defensive end position. The rumored interest for a few weeks finally came to fruition with one preseason game remaining.

Today’s divisional recap touches on the Griffen addition, but also keys in on a potentially surprising release in Detroit and an awful defensive showing in Chicago last weekend.`

Detroit Lions

4 takeaways from the Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers preseason game

If there is one glaring issue the Lions face right now, it is probably a secondary that was carved up in multiple ways against Pittsburgh.

Detroit Lions cut Jordan Ta’amu, ‘have no problem keeping 3’ QBs on 53-man roster

The Lions’ cutdown to 80 players included a quarterback, and Tim Boyle may now have an even safer chance at the final roster.

Dan Campbell on Breshad Perriman: ‘There just hasn’t been enough’ from the WR in Lions training camp

Detroit’s head coach far from endorsed Perriman in the aftermath of preseason game number two. The former anticipated starter may now be on the bubble for the final roster.

Chicago Bears

Time to be concerned after Bears’ defense ‘laid an egg’

Former Bear Mitchell Trubisky carved up a defense that missed a lot of tackles, even from its expected starters.

Jon Gruden reportedly tried to get Khalil Mack back on Raiders, but Bears weren’t interested

After trading Mack back in 2018, it sounds as if Gruden and the Raiders made a call to get the edge rusher back this past spring.

Justin Fields: It’s ‘disrespectful’ for Bears fans to chant his name while Andy Dalton is starting QB

Despite the fans’ cheers for the rookie, it doesn’t appear that Head Coach Matt Nagy will budge on starting Dalton in Week 1.

Minnesota Vikings

Stock up, stock down from the Vikings’ preseason loss to the Colts

There was quite a bit of intrigue surrounding the selection of Ihmir Smith-Marsette during April’s draft, but he made an impression more so on special teams than at wide receiver during the second exhibition game.

Vikings bring back former Pro Bowl DE Everson Griffen

The defensive end’s interest in returning had been chronicled earlier this offseason, but the two sides made the reunion official on Monday.

Vikings make flurry of moves to get roster to 80 players

Signing Griffen was not the only transaction that Minnesota made earlier this week to settle its 80-man roster.