Vikings stay aggressive, Packers hit hard by injuries — NFC North roundup

There were no NFC North games on the schedule yesterday, but the division still produced plenty of news. The Minnesota Vikings are undefeated at 5-0 and staying busy at wide receiver, while the Green Bay Packers are dealing with major defensive losses. Behind Minnesota, the Lions, Bears and Packers are all clustered at 3-2.

Vikings: unbeaten and shopping at receiver

According to Pro Football Rumors, the Vikings brought in wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for a workout, just a week after signing fellow veteran Odell Beckham Jr. Pro Football Rumors cites a report from The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero for news of the Smith-Schuster visit, as Minnesota continues to explore upgrades at pass catcher despite its 5-0 start.

Pro Football Rumors also lists the Vikings among the teams involved in Monday’s batch of minor roster moves around the league, as clubs quietly tweak depth ahead of Week 6.

On the coaching front, Pro Football Rumors notes that Mike Pettine’s winter exit from the Vikings’ staff had been framed as a retirement. The outlet now reports that Pettine is coming out of that retirement to join the Dallas Cowboys as a senior defensive assistant.

Packers: shorthanded defense and a flipped line

CBS Sports’ latest NFL Power Rankings have the Packers as one of the week’s biggest risers, climbing 10 spots after a 3-2 start. That jump comes even as injuries mount.

Pro Football Rumors reports that as Green Bay battles to stay in the NFC playoff race, Micah Parsons is unlikely to return to practice this week and the team is dealing with injuries to several key pieces, including right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele, receiver Jayden Reed and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper.

CBS Sports adds that defensive tackle Javon Hargrave is out for the season with a torn Achilles and that Cooper is also facing a season-ending Achilles injury. With both players sidelined, CBS notes the Packers are running short on healthy defensive linemen.

In its Week 6 picks and predictions, CBS Sports forecasts a Cowboys upset of the Packers, while a separate early-odds piece from CBS says the betting line for that matchup has flipped and points out that quarterback injuries elsewhere in the league could still reshape several Week 6 lines.

Lions: statement win, costly injuries

Per Pro Football Rumors, the Lions improved to 3-2 with a 45-21 blowout of the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but suffered two significant first-half injuries. Wide receiver/returner Tom Kennedy is expected to undergo season-ending knee surgery after an MCL injury on a punt, while linebacker Devin White sustained a broken forearm.

There were no notable headlines on the Chicago Bears, who remain 3-2 in a tightly packed division where only Minnesota has separated from the field so far.