Bears

Bears QB Tyson Bagent said that he wants more opportunities to get on the field as his career continues to age.

“I do feel all those things,” Bagent said, via The Athletic. “As I get older, I know there’s a time limit on this whole thing. And I am itching, even maybe a little more, to get in the game.”

Bagent reiterated that he wants to be a starter and has no intentions of being a career backup.

“I want everything the league can offer me while I’m here,” he says. “I’ll never be closer than I am right now. I’m not gonna sit here and tell you I want to be a second- and third-string quarterback for the rest of my career.”

Bears HC Ben Johnson recognized that it will be nearly impossible for Bagent to become a starter in Chicago.

“It’s hard here with our situation,” Johnson acknowledges. “Yet I admire the fact that he still competes every single day. He walks into this building (with the attitude of), ‘These guys are crazy. I’m better than Caleb.’ Like that is how he’s wired. And that’s how he needs to be wired.”

Johnson added that if Williams were ever to miss time, he’s confident in Bagent’s ability to step in and run the offense without them missing a beat.

“I just know I sleep well at night, knowing we have an elite backup on this roster.”

Packers

Matt LaFleur is entering his eighth year as the Packers’ head coach. LaFleur thinks he handles his emotions better than earlier in his career and tries to focus only on what he can control. 

“I don’t think I get as pissed off as I used to,” LaFleur said, via Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic. “… I’m just like, ‘All right, am I in control of this? Or not?’ … I think a little bit more like that (or at least try to) with a lot of things. … That has helped me, when I know I can’t control it.”

LaFleur reiterated how his perspective has changed as a coach over the years. 

“I think my perspective has changed a little bit, just on life in general,” LaFleur said. “The older you get, all you can ask of anybody is just do the best you can. … If you’re doing the best you can and it doesn’t work out, I can still look myself in the mirror and know I did everything I could. I feel like that about everyone in the building.”

As for bringing in former Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon as their new defensive coordinator, LaFleur said he is better than he ever envisioned. 

“He’s been better than I could have ever envisioned,” LaFleur said. “I love the guy. I love how he holds (players and coaches) accountable. But he doesn’t have an ego. That’s fun to work with.”

Vikings

Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell said that QB J.J. McCarthy has taken his demotion to backup quarterback well and he is being challenged to prepare as the team’s starter in hopes of continued development.

“What I would say is this: I did mean that in regards to the question of is he [the backup] is that he has taken all the two reps in practice and he’s done really well,” O’Connell said, via PFT. “You think about from the time we made that announcement until now, there’s been some plays where I’ve been proud as heck. . . . There’s been some really good stuff. But I want those guys feeling like they’re competing. The philosophy around making our quarterback room competitive and allow that to rise to the standard of not only our team but our offense. . . . I know you guys would roll your eyes every time I mentioned Carson [Wentz] and Max [Brosmer’s] names throughout the offseason as part of it, but they’re part of it. That’s what we want throughout that quarterback room. We want Carson feeling like he can do the things consistently that he can do, that we know exactly who and what he is, and we want J.J. feeling like I’m one step away, and I have to prepare like the starter anyway. It’s easy to say those things, but we wanted to have a room that forced it. We’ll see these next couple of weeks play out. We’re going to do what’s best for our team. Proud of the way J.J.’s handled the last few days. Thought Carson did some good things in the game. I wish we could have gotten Max more time, but hopefully that can come here through these next two preseason games.”