NFC North: Checking in on Lions' division rivals this preseason

USA Today

12 hours ago

The Detroit Lions have had an atypical preseason experience in 2025 with four games instead of three, but they've otherwise had a standard storyline.
The starters have seen very little-if-any live action, there's an ongoing debate over who the backup quarterback should be, they've suffered from a handful of injuries, they have a mixed bag of rookies, and the team as a whole has been a bit sloppy on the field. All things considered, this is the kind of preseason a promising team is fine with.
The Lions (1-2 this preseason) are the defending NFC North champions after handling their business within the division last season. This year, a handful of changes for all four teams makes a repeat performance far from a guarantee.
All three of the Lions' division foes have their own intriguing preseason storylines. Here's a look at how the opposition is doing with only a couple of weeks left before the Lions kick their season off against the Green Bay Packers.
Chicago Bears (1-0-1)
Preseason Storylines:
Have they played their starters?
Yes. They played sparingly in this first preseason game but Caleb Williams and the rest of the starters played for two drives in their second game against the Bills.
Top Performers:
Key Injuries:
Green Bay Packers (1-1)
Preseason Storylines:
Have they played their starters?
Yes. The Packers played their starters in their first preseason game against the New York Jets, but not in their second game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Top Performers:
Key Injuries:
Minnesota Vikings (1-1)
Preseason Storylines:
Have they played their starters?
Yes. J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings starters saw a handful of plays in their first game against the Houston Texans. They did not get the same live-action opportunity in their second game against the New England Patriots.
Top Performers:
Key Injuries: