Home to some of the most storied franchises in the NFL, the NFC North will be a division to watch this season. The Packers are perennial title contenders and the Vikings are coming off a surprise playoff run. And on any given day, players on the Lions can draw this card. Here a look at what happened in OTAs this week:
NFC North OTA news roundup: Forte skips OTAs, Reggie Bush in the mix to return punts
Reggie Bush showed off an old talent while a Green Bay Packer returned to the team after a stint in jail and rehab.
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Headed by running back Matt Forte, four Chicago Bears starters did not participate in Tuesday's workouts. Forte and cornerback Tim Jennings had prior commitments, with the former joining teammate Johnny Knox in Germany for a USO tour. Kicker Robbie Gould is still seeking medical clearance to participate in practice and saw a doctor in Dallas this week. Gould missed the final three games of last season after rupturing a tendon in his calf. The fourth player not in attendance was offensive lineman Gabe Carimi. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall attended the workouts, but did not suit up because he is still recovering from surgery on his hip.
After initially targeting May 23rd as the date of his return to team activities, Green Bay Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly won't actually return until next week. This week, Jolly was still undergoing court-ordered treatment for a drug problem that landed him in jail. He has now completed the program and will return to the Packers for the first time since July of 2010. The Packers drafted Jolly in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL draft.
The Detroit Lions struggled to get production on special teams last year, which is why they hotly pursued Joshua Cribbs in the offseason. But after failing to get Cribbs, the Lions are weighing their options at team workouts. Reggie Bush is among seven players getting a look, and obviously has the best resume of the bunch. Bush hasn't been a full-time return man since 2009 in New Orleans, but has four career touchdowns and returned six punts for Miami in 2012.
After being told he wouldn't return until July from a broken leg, Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson practiced without restrictions Wednesday. Burleson started just five games for the Lions before breaking the leg, but not before catching 27 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns. The Nevada product has been a productive complement to Calvin Johnson since signing with the Lions in 2010, scoring 11 touchdowns in 36 career games with Detroit.
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