Up Next in the North - Week 8 Edition

Welcome to Up Next in the North – your weekly briefing on the ever-shifting blueprint of the Black-and-Blue Division. Today we log the latest waiver wire wrinkles, run the diagnostic on the week’s injury reports and map out exactly how the next slate of games will be won or lost.

The Cheeseheads (4-3)

Up Next: Home against the 3-3 Panthers.

When: Thursday 8:15 on Amazon Prime

Spread: Packers (-3.5)

Green Bay is facing a quick turnaround with a Thursday night game after losing in Detroit in a late Sunday afternoon contest. The biggest story for Green Bay, besides the continual whining about the referees in the Detroit game, is the mounting injuries. The offensive line that was already hobbled coming into Detroit is even worse off facing the Panthers. The defense is already missing their biggest star, but there were several others that got nicked up in Detroit. The Panthers are coming off a 43-13 shellacking at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a game that was over before it started. The teams faced off last year and the Panthers won, 16-13.

Injuries on the Packer Defense:

• LB Zaire Franking – OUT. The starting MLB is out with a hairline shin fracture.

• DE/Edge Micah Parsons – OUT. He’s started to practice, but is still a few weeks off from returning

• DL Devonte Wyatt, DT Anthony Campbell, LB Brenton Cox – All three defensive players are managing ankle and/or thigh issues, but are trending toward playing after participating in mid-week walkthroughs. The short week will not be kind to this trio.

Injuries on the Packer Offense:

• OC Sean Rhyan – OUT. Suffered a severe ankle injury against the Lions and is out. He avoided the IR, but is out for at least a few more weeks.

• OG Travis Glover – OUT. Reported severe knee pain after playing all 67 snaps in Detroit.

• OG/OC Jacob Monk – OUT. He stepped in to replace Rhyan last weekend and immediately suffered a quad injury. He is officially out for at least four weeks.

• WR Marcus Golden – QUESTIONABLE. The Packer’s leading receiver (36 catches, 540 yards) is dealing with shoulder and foot injuries. He sat out early in the week, but was upgraded to limited practice on Wednesday. Another player that would prefer to have a Sunday game this week.

Other Personnel Movement:

• OT/OG Mekhi Becton – The former first rounder was activated from the practice squad. Becton was drafted by the Jets in 2020 in the first round. They did not use the 5th year option and in 2024 he became a free agent. He signed with the Eagles where he did start 15 games, but they thought so little of him they let him go after one season. The Chargers signed him and he started 14 games last season. They declined extending him last spring. He was a free agent until September 28 when the Packers signed him to their PS.

• DT Mazi Smith – Signed to the PS. The former UM Standout is another first round bust that the Packers are hoping can find his college mojo. Mazi did play nearly half the snaps in his second year in Dallas, but they traded him after 5 games of spotty usage last year. The Jets got 54 snaps out of him across 3 games last year and released him late in the preseason this year. Miami signed him to their PS and elevated him twice this year where he played 9 total snaps. The Dolphins released him a few weeks ago and the Packers signed him to their PS. If the guy can’t get regular playing time in Miami or on the Jets….

• RB Damon Bankston – RELEASED from the PS to make room for Mazi.

DaBears (5-2)

Up Next: On the road at the 4-3 Seahawks.

When: Monday 8:15 on ESPN/ABC

Spread: Seahawks (-3.5)

Coming off a 30-24 Thursday night victory over the Patriots, the Bears are riding a wave of momentum. Ben Johnson has Caleb Williams looking like a guy that deserved to be drafted first overall. Last week Caleb was 22-33 for his second straight 300+ yard game. He had a passer rating of 116.7 against the Pats. However, Seattle and the 12th man is no easy place to play. The Bears do have the benefit of being able to nurse the nagging injuries by playing on Thursday and then being off until Monday. The Seahawks last week took down the previously undefeated Chiefs 20-3. Mike MacDonald and the “Dark Side” totally shut down the Chiefs, holding them to just 213 yards and no touchdowns. Former Spartan/Former Seahawk Kenneth Walker III had just 36 yards on 14 carries. JSN had 9 catches for 150 and a score to pace the Seahawk offense

Injuries on the Bears Defense:

• DB Malik Muhammad, LB D’Marco Jackson – QUESTIONABLE. Both have foot injuries and both made big plays against the Patriots before leaving early. Their status will be monitored right up through Saturday’s walkthroughs

• DL Dayo Odeyinbo – OUT. He was officially placed on IR following a quadriceps injury suffered a few weeks ago. He is out for a minimum of four more games.

Injuries to the Bears Offense:

• TE Cole Kmet – OUT. His season is over as he suffered a serious knee injury last week. The Bears also have former Wolverine Coleston Loveland at tight end, but he really is a WR in a TE’s body. The majority of his snaps are lined up in the slot versus the traditional TE role.

• RB Kyle Monangai – DOUBTFUL. Monangai is trending towards being OUT. He has both a severe case of turf toe and a thumb issue. Despite the 10 day break, the movements below signal he isn’t back this week.

Other Personnel Moves:

• EDGE Montez Sweat – SUSPENSION LIFTED. His served the entire 2 game suspension without an appeal as he took full responsibility. However, he did claim it was “definitely accidental” and a complete surprise! (wink, wink) when he learned he had unintentionally digested a banned substance.

• RB Zavier Scott – Signed to 53 man roster. The 27 year old was promoted to the active roster to provide depth behind former Lion D’Andre Swift with Monangai probably not playing.

• DB Nick McCloud – Released. The 6th year DB played in the slot, but with Muhammad coming on he has been mainly on special teams this year.

• DB K.C. Eziomume – Added to PS. Thank God for the transfer portal in college. The former Tulane Green Wave spent his first two years as a Bulldog playing for Alabama A&M before spending his 3rd collegiate season wearing the Great Danes jersey as a member of the University of Albany football team. Seems like a depth piece.

• Sent two first rounders and a fourth to the Tennessee Titans for DT Jeffrey Simmons. They are getting a 30-year-old former All pro DT that is in top 15 of league but will be owed $113M on his deal that Bears will be on the hook for until his 34th birthday.

Skol (6-0)

Up Next: on the road against the 4-2 Lions.

When: Sunday, 1:00 on Fox

Spread: Lions (-3)

All fans of The Grey Manes are closely monitoring the Vikings this week as they travel to Ford Field. Minnesota is coming off a hard fought 16-10 win over the Colts at home. They had 275 total yards in offense, but held the Colts to just 218. However, the Colts managed 154 yards on the ground, so they may have exposed a chink in the Viking’s armor. Daniel Jones was just 13-22, but Daniel Jones can’t hold a candle to Jared Goff.

The Vikings suffered no major injuries last week.

Injuries to the Vikings Offense:

• RB Aaron Jones - “DAY-TO-DAY”. Kevin O’Connell indicated he isn’t worried about Jones.

• OT Brian O’Neill – QUESTIONABLE – He was a limited participant on Wednesday due to a minor knee injury, but is expected to play.

• OG Joe Huber – QUESTIONABLE – Sidelined due to knee soreness. He has been starting due to Donovan Jackson being injured. If he can’t go, the Vikings will be down to their 3rd string OG – either Trevor Keegan or Caleb Tierman.

Injuries to the Vikings Defense:

• DT Caleb Banks – MONITOR. The rookie first rounder limped off the field late in Week 7. If he is out, that could further limit the run defense that the Colts seemed to take advantage of last week.

Other Personnel Moves

• RB Jordan Mason – ACTIVATED FROM THE IR. He’ll provide depth for any part of the workload they don’t want to give to Jones.

• WR Jordan Addison – Has had a bad hammy since Week 4. He did sit out Week 5, and then the Vikings had a Week 6 bye. He played around 80% of the team’s snaps last week and has been listed as a full participant this week.

This article was created with an assist from AI for information gathering purposes