Lions

Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell confirmed there will be no player rest during Week 17 against the 49ers, despite ongoing injury challenges.

“Yeah, I’ll make this easy for everybody that way all the critics can jump out and start attacking, but that way you don’t have to debate them anymore,” Campbell stated, according to USA Today’s Jeff Risdon. “We’re bringing everything that we have to this game, and we are playing, and I don’t care what it looks like, and where it’s at or who’s this, who’s that, we’re going out to play and win this game out on the west coast. So, there you go.”

In addition, Campbell remarked that the previous year’s loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship does not add extra motivation for this matchup.

“Anytime we lose, the thought of losing is going to motivate you to not want to lose again, particularly with where you were at,” Campbell remarked. “So, that’s always going to bring its own level of motivation to it, but it’s also, this is where we’re at in the season, we know that we need another win, we understand where we’re at in the division and the NFC, so I think it’s all encompassing. And look, most importantly, it’s the next one. It’s the next one in front of us.”

Packers

Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur praised the team’s comprehensive performance following a resounding 34-0 victory over the Saints in Week 16.

“What’s really cool is we’re getting contributions from a lot of different people,” LaFleur noted, as reported by Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. “So I think that’s usually the mark of a good team.”

Packers Defensive Tackle Kenny Clark emphasized the team’s strong depth this season.

“The more you look at our depth, we got a lot of guys that can play,” Clark mentioned. “It hasn’t been like that in years past.”

Additionally, Cornerback Keisean Nixon commended the defense’s pass rush, noting its synergy with the secondary.

“They’ve been playing ball,” Nixon remarked. “It’s complementary. It’s not just them. It’s us in the back end covering, allowing them to get sacks. And them rushing allows us to cover on the back end. I just think we’ve been playing team defense and complementary and dominating.”

Vikings

Mike Sando of The Athletic recently interviewed an NFL executive regarding Vikings Quarterback Sam Darnold and his upcoming free agency. This insider advised caution about Darnold’s future.

“This season has proved Sam needs Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, (T.J.) Hockenson, one of the grittiest offensive lines and a top back in Aaron Jones. If you are Minnesota, you wave goodbye to Sam, wish him luck and hope he signs for $50 million with some team that thinks they are a quarterback away, but doesn’t have all those things Minnesota has,” he explained. “You get the premium comp pick, you found your next Sam Darnold in Daniel Jones and you already have your draft pick (McCarthy) ready to go. That is what a smart organization does.”

Sando also reported that another executive suggested franchising Darnold while keeping first-round QB J.J. McCarthy as a future prospect. An agent responded:

“They can afford that. What they can’t afford is turning it over to a rookie coming off a season-ending injury. The only Darnold caveat at this point is the playoffs.”

A coach added that Darnold should keep an eye on the contract developments of 49ers QB Brock Purdy.

“If I’m Darnold and the Vikings move on from me, whatever Brock Purdy wants from the 49ers, I want less. If he says to San Francisco, ‘I’ll be your starting quarterback for $15 million a year or whatever and Brock Purdy is asking for $45 million, how does San Francisco sit there and say Brock Purdy is the guy they are going with?”