Yardbarker

Michael Gallagher

Michael is a Nashville-based sports journalist with nearly a decade of experience covering the NFL, NHL and college football. A loyal 49ers fan, he even stuck with them through the Tim Rattay/Ken Dorsey era. You can follow him on Twitter at @MGsports_

D.K. Metcalf takes shot at Lions CB Jeff Okudah: ‘He’s not locking people down’

Through three games, Okudah has held three of the league’s top young receivers in check, including star wideout Justin Jefferson.

Bears shortening practice to help limit mid-week injuries

After watching many of his players go down with injuries during practice or not make it to Sunday, head coach Matt Eberflus decided to do something about it.

Ex-Vikings lineman calls out rookie Lewis Cine for ambiguous tweet

When Vikings rookie safety Lewis Cine posted a cryptic tweet possibly taking aim at his coaches for a lack of playing time last Sunday, one former player took notice.

NFL analyst calls for Packers to bench starting guard Royce Newman

One NFL analyst believes he’s found Green Bay’s weak link.

Bears may turn to rookie WR Velus Jones Jr. to fill void left by Byron Pringle

The last thing the Bears needed was an injury in their wide receiver group.

Justin Jefferson admits he nearly lost his cool in win over Lions

Jefferson admitted that the multiple double- and triple-teams he now sees on a regular basis thanks to his new superstar status has been exasperating.

Matt Eberflus defends Lucas Patrick passing Teven Jenkins on Bears depth chart

While Jenkins has had better on-field results than Patrick — he’s allowed two fewer pressures and is a higher-graded run blocker.

Lions QB Jared Goff says team isn’t close to winning, they’re there

Although the Detroit Lions sit in fourth place in the NFC North with a 1-2 record, they were just seven points and four and a half minutes away from sitting atop the division undefeated.

Boomer Esiason: Chicago is 'a franchise where quarterbacks go to die'

In the 102-year history of the Bears, the franchise has had just nine Pro Bowl quarterbacks.

Lions' high-octane offense sets NFL record in loss to Vikings

Last season, the Detroit Lions were fortunate to score two touchdowns per game. Through three games this year, however, Detroit’s offense has been producing at a record-setting pace.

Social media roasts Jimmy Garoppolo for Dan Orlovsky-like end zone blunder

Garoppolo’s misfortune was potentially a blessing in disguise as he was actually intercepted on the play by Broncos linebacker Bradley Chubb, who ran it in for a pick-six, which was negated due to the safety.

Justin Fields concedes Bears offense may be hindering his development

The Bears have the 32nd-ranked passing offense in the NFL, and the gap between them and the team ahead of them is sizeable.

Justin Fields walks back polarizing postgame jab at Bears fans

Fields admitted that a conversation with his father after the incident prompted him to reflect on what happened and use it as a teaching moment.

NFL analyst proposes nixing Bears-Packers prime-time games

Is it time to stop putting Packers-Bears games in prime time?

Packers fans dealing with duplicate credit card charges from Lambeau Field vendors

Some fans were charged as many as 12 times for a single purchase.

Kirk Cousins ties woeful NFL record with latest performance

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has played in a Big Ten championship game, the NFL playoff games, and even Pro Bowls, but there’s something about playing in prime time that seems to rattle the 34-year-old QB.

David Montgomery blames Packers' home-field advantage for Bears' negated TD

As Bears quarterback Justin Fields took a shotgun snap on 4th-and-goal from the Green Bay Packers 1-yard line in Sunday’s 27-10 loss at Lambeau Field, it appeared Chicago had cut its deficit to just one score with 8:13 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Packers admit Aaron Rodgers was inspiration for ayahuasca TD celebration

Randall Cobb said they were just “drinking some tea,” but Sammy Watkins later let the cat out of the bag.

Lions HC Dan Campbell brings player to tears with post-game speech

Although Detroit Lions offensive lineman Dan Skipper has only been in the NFL for six years, he’s already one of the more well-traveled players in the league.

NFL analyst says D’Andre Swift could be among NFL’s elite by year’s end

Through two games, Swift has 200 yards rushing and is averaging 10 yards per carry, and he’s accounted for 31 percent of Detroit's offense.

Allen Lazard rallies around Packers rookie WR Christian Watson

No one presumably felt worse than Christian Watson after the Packers rookie wideout dropped a would-be 75-yard touchdown pass on Green Bay’s first offensive play of the game in Sunday’s 23-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

NFL analyst impressed with Lions new OC Ben Johnson, says team ‘is for real’

Albeit in defeat, the strides the Detroit Lions offense made in just one game under new offensive coordinator Ben Johnson impressed many, including NFL insider Brian Baldinger.

Bears LB Roquan Smith relishes playing the ‘best version’ of Aaron Rodgers in Week 2

While head coach Matt Eberflus may be understating the weight of Week 2’s clash between NFC North rivals, Bears linebacker Roquan Smith, who’s beaten Rodgers just one time in eight games, is not.

Pat McAfee praises Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell: ‘He might be a damn mastermind’

The Minnesota Vikings’ domination of the Green Bay Packers in Sunday’s 23-7 Week 1 win caught the eye of many, including former Pro Bowl punter Pat McAfee.

Mike Martz rips into Bears QB Justin Fields again after Sunday's performance

Fields seemed to have won over many following Chicago’s 19-10 upset Week 1 win over the 49ers on Sunday.