NFC North stock up, down: Impressive RBs and a lineman on the decline

With the preseason behind us, here's a look at whose stock is up and down in the NFC North ahead of the start of the regular season.  

Stock Up

Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears running back: The eighth running back selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Johnson's stock is rising thanks to a solid preseason. Showing off strength and elusiveness, Johnson posted 98 rushing yards on 32 attempts, with many of those yards coming after contact.  

It's a small sample size, but Johnson has proven to be every bit of the back he was in college at Texas and perhaps more. Khalil Herbert is the unquestioned No. 1 RB, and Johnson must contend with D'Onta Foreman for carries. However, Johnson's patience and explosiveness, combined with solid blocking and receiving abilities, should result in plenty of touches for him.

Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions running back: The fifth-year pro flourished in the preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers, rushing for 41 yards and a touchdown against mostly first-teamers. 

The preseason didn't start out well for Reynolds, who had a lackluster debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars, finishing with 13 yards on eight attempts. So the showing came at the best time for Reynolds.   

Karl Brooks, Green Bay Packer defensive lineman: Selected 179th overall in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft; Brooks is looking like a steal. The 23-year-old former Bowling Green standout has done nothing but impress during training camp and preseason. 

Brooks had only two tackles in the preseason, but he's been a terror against quarterbacks. The 6-foot-4 295-pounder tallied six pressures, including four hurries and two QB hits, helping him earn the 11th-highest Pro Football Focus grade (77.5) among defensive linemen who played at least 20 percent of snaps during the preseason. Head coach Matt LaFleur has already lauded Brooks for his consistency adding the speedy and agile Brooks is a player the Packers will lean on. 

Stock Down 

Olisaemeka Udoh, Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle: A sixth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Udoh has made 17 starts over two seasons and looked to be rounding into a dependable and versatile backup. Udoh, however, had an abysmal preseason, putting his spot on the 53-man roster in jeopardy. He gave up sacks on consecutive plays and committed two penalties last week against the Tennessee Titans. Switching from right to left tackle, he also looked unimpressive in the preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals, 

Udoh was serviceable filling in for an injured Brian O'Neill in the 2022 postseason but appears to be regressing. Throughout the preseason, he looked outmatched against backups and backups of backups. If he doesn't bounce back in a big way, he has a dim future in Minnesota. 

Julian Okwara, Detroit Lions defensive lineman: Okwara, selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, may become a victim of the numbers game in Detroit, especially with the emergence of James Houston. Furthermore, he was left on the field with third-stringers before leaving the preseason finale with a knee injury. 

The 25-year-old has started only three games over three seasons, missing time each season with injury. With so much depth along the defensive line, led by Aidan Hutchinson, Okwara was mentioned in trade rumors last week before falling injured. Whether he'll be on the 53-man roster come Week 1 remains to be seen. 

Tarvarius Moore, Green Bay Packers safety: Moore, a third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2018 NFL Draft, was brought in alongside former Houston Texan Jonathan Owens to challenge for the second starting safety spot opposite Darnell Savage Jr. However, after failing to start a game for the Niners in 2022, the opportunity to do so in Green Bay has seemingly slipped through Moore's fingers. 

Moore recorded three tackles over 43 snaps during the preseason, but it wasn't enough to impress the Packers brass. While head coach Matt LaFleur hasn't officially named a starter, he hinted strongly that former special teams standout Rudy Ford had won the job.