NFL Rumors: Justin Fields and Luke Getsy have a Bear hug after press drama
All is well in Chicago -- for now.
The week began as any other week for Bears fans, most of whom were already in the depression stage of grief for the 2023 season. Then, lightning struck. Quarterback Justin Fields appeared to point a finger at his coaches for the offense's struggles in a Wednesday press conference. Not long after, rumors started to spread about defensive coordinator Alan Williams and the suspicious circumstances of his sudden retirement. What was going on in Halas Hall?
At Thursday's practice, Fields and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy made a public gesture to give some reassurances to Bears fans. The two hugged it out in front of reporters in what could be described as a blatant PR stunt.
The team also blared Kendrick Lamar's song, "We gon' be alright", to hammer home the message of solidarity and to spread good overall vibes. Nothing to see here, just a couple of football dudes getting along.
The fires may have cooled down in Chicago but people are still wary of what seems to be an on-the-verge combustible Bears franchise. Sitting 0-2 with one of the worst offenses in the league, the Bears need to fix their issues soon before their entire staff ends up on the hot seat.
Fields is in Year 3 in Chicago but hasn't made many -- or any -- improvements since 2022 and appeared visibly frustrated in this week's presser. D.J. Moore has expressed his frustrations, too.
Without tangible progress in these next few weeks, general manager Ryan Poles may have to start asking the hard questions.
NFL Rumors: Packers' first-round pick Lukas Van Ness is turning into a draft steal
The Packers' No. 13 overall pick of the 2023 draft, Lukas Van Ness, has been outplaying his peers so far this year. It's a small sample size, but the team has to be pleased with how quickly Van Ness has acclimated to the NFL.
Van Ness became the first Packers rookie pass-rusher to record a sack in Week 1 in 28 years. Since the season-opening win over the Bears, the rookie has tallied four tackles, two tackles for loss, and five quarterback pressures.
At his level of production, it's no wonder the Packers are playing him often (he has 53 snaps through two weeks). Out of all the first-round edge rushers taken in April, Van Ness has the highest "pass rush productivity", a statistic generated by Pro Football Focus,
Compared to Texans' Will Anderson and Raiders' Tyree Wilson, both of whom were selected before him, Van Ness may have landed in a more optimal defense in Green Bay. He's surrounded by experience and talent in Preston Smith and Rashan Gary, among others, and has been able to hold his own on the field, flashing speed on the edge and using his athleticism to beat grizzled offensive linemen.
It's way too early to judge this year's rookie class. But if it was a competition, Van Ness would be firmly in the lead.
NFL Rumors: Derek Carr extends olive branch to Raiders, Josh McDaniels
Patrick Mahomes has some competition for the NFL's Most Likable award. Saints quarterback Derek Carr recently revealed that he still keeps in touch with Raiders coach Josh McDaniels despite Carr's fallout with Las Vegas this past offseason.
Carr went so far as to text McDaniels after the Raiders' win over the Broncos in Week 1, telling him, "Hey, congrats on beating the Broncos. That's awesome. Just like we did last year."
It's a gesture of class and respect that no one expected after Carr's nasty break-up with the Raiders at the end of the 2022 season.
Raiders fans will point out that Carr notably refused to be traded back when he was part of the roster. In March, Las Vegas was trying to send him to New Orleans in return for draft capital, but Carr vetoed the move. He would join the Saints not long after as a free agent.
Given how the Raiders treated him at the end of 2022, Carr was just exacting revenge, a little tit-for-tat. Now, months later, Carr appears more than happy to rebuild that bridge with the Raiders and Josh McDaniels and call a truce.
No bad blood, no bad karma.