MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-4)

OPEN CAMP: July 25 (rookies) JC Tretter Jersey , July 28 (veterans), Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, Eagan, Minnesota

LAST YEAR: Despite losing starting QB Sam Bradford after season opener and rookie RB Dalvin Cook in fourth game, both to knee injuries, Vikings rode backup QB Case Keenum and league-leading defense to second-most wins in franchise history. Beat Saints on last-second 61-yard TD pass from Keenum to WR Stefon Diggs in play dubbed ”Minneapolis Miracle,” before being trounced by Eagles in NFC championship game to miss chance of becoming NFL’s first Super Bowl host to play in game.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, QB Kirk Cousins, DT Sheldon Richardson, PK Daniel Carlson, CB/KR Mike Hughes, WR Kendall Wright, OG Tom Compton, QB Trevor Siemian, OT Brian O’Neill.

IMPORTANT LOSSES: Keenum, Bradford, RB Jerick McKinnon, RG Joe Berger, WR Jarius Wright, DT Tom Johnson, DT Shamar Stephen, QB Teddy Bridgewater Isaac Yiadom Jersey , OL Jeremiah Sirles.

CAMP NEEDS: Cousins must continue to build chemistry with Diggs, WR Adam Thielen, TE Kyle Rudolph and rest of receivers, but even more important is establishment of healthy line in front of him. RT Rashod Hill will be in spotlight after taking most of first-team reps in spring practices while Mike Remmers moved to RG, and C Pat Elflein has catching up to do with Cousins on cadence and calls; Elflein was out of team drills all offseason in recovery from shoulder, ankle injuries. Cook looks to step back in as starting tailback 10 months after ACL surgery. First-round draft pick Hughes will have opportunity to earn jobs as primary KR and nickel CB.

EXPECTATIONS: As high as ever, with fully guaranteed contract for Cousins and under-radar signing of Richardson to supplement one of league’s most stacked rosters. With Diggs, DE Danielle Hunter and LB Anthony Barr on expiring contracts and handful of defense’s stars nearing, at, or over 30, time is now for team’s first title. Repeating last year’s record won’t be easy, with questions remaining on offensive line, where Berger’s retirement created opening, and stiffer schedule that includes road trips to face Rams, Eagles, Patriots and Seahawks.

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DETROIT LIONS (9-7)

OPEN CAMP: July 27, Allen Park, Michigan

LAST YEAR: Early and late-season slides knocked team out of playoff contention and cost coach Jim Caldwell job. QB Matthew Stafford led pass-dependent offense with 1,000-yard WRs Marvin Jones and Golden Tate. CB Darius Slay emerged as one of league’s best in coverage.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Coach Matt Patricia, RB LeGarrette Blount, RB Kerryon Johnson, TE Luke Willson Josh Gordon Jersey , C Frank Ragnow, DT Sylvester Williams, LB Christian Jones, LB Devon Kennard.

IMPORTANT LOSSES: Coach Jim Caldwell, TE Eric Ebron, DT Haloti Ngata, LB Tahir Whitehead.

CAMP NEEDS: Developing running game with two new backs and rookie center. Learning new defense with first-year head coach and new coordinator Paul Pasqualoni.

EXPECTATIONS: Making playoffs must be goal after firing coach coming off third winning season in four years. Third-year GM Bob Quinn wants team to become tougher, especially in short yardage and near goal line.

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GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-9)

OPEN CAMP: July 26, Green Bay, Wisconsin

LAST YEAR: Finished under .500 and out of playoffs for first time since 2008. Offense struggled with QB Aaron Rodgers sidelined for seven games with broken collarbone. Defense plagued by porous secondary and lack of consistent pass rush. Injuries ravaged cornerback position again.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: GM Brian Gutekunst, offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, QB DeShone Kizer, TE Jimmy Graham, TE Marcedes Lewis, CB Tramon Williams, rookie CBs Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson, DL Muhammad Wilkerson.

IMPORTANT LOSSES: retired GM Ted Thompson, defensive coordinator Dom Capers, S Morgan Burnett, WR Jordy Nelson, G Jahri Evans Terrance Williams Jersey , TE Richard Rodgers.

CAMP NEEDS: Find receiver to replace Nelson. Packers took three wideouts in middle rounds of draft, but returnees Geronimo Allison and Trevor Davis could have early edge. With Rodgers sidelined, Nelson’s production tailed off last year, and Packers let him go in offseason and brought in Graham to provide big target over middle. At their best, Rodgers and Nelson were one of top combos in league. Packers need to develop pass-rush depth behind Clay Matthews and Nick Perry, and hope that Alexander and Jackson can learn from Williams to help in coverage.

EXPECTATIONS: Packers are always threat as long as Rodgers is healthy. Last season served as painful lesson of what team needs to shore up defensive deficiencies that could be masked by their gifted quarterback. At worst, expect return to playoffs – assuming Rodgers is healthy – following offseason full of changes in Titletown.

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CHICAGO BEARS (5-11)

OPEN CAMP: July 19, Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, Illinois

LAST YEAR: Bears finished last in NFC North for fourth straight year, then fired coach John Fox after three losing seasons. GM Ryan Pace got contract extension through 2021 and hired Andy Reid protege Matt Nagy as head coach, hoping he gets most out of QB Mitchell Trubisky. Wide receivers were big weakness, with Cameron Meredith (left knee) out for season and Kevin White (shoulder) missing most of it. Chicago’s leading receiver was Kendall Wright – now with Minnesota – with 59 receptions for 614 yards. Bears had formidable RB tandem with Jordan Howard (1,122 yards) and Tarik Cohen (370 yards rushing, 353 receiving), though Howard struggled to catch passes. Defense ranked 10th overall despite

BALTIMORE — Miami left-hander Wei-Yin Chen will face his former team for the first time when the Marlins take on the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Saturday.

Miami is in position to win a three-game series for the first time this season after beating Baltimore 2-0 in the opener Friday.

The Orioles, who have lost eight consecutive games, lag near the bottom of nearly every offensive category. First baseman Chris Davis underscores most of those troubles, and he was held out of the lineup for the third straight game Friday.

Davis is batting .150 with four homers.

“He’s tried a lot of things, but I think doing it this way, you’re trying not to say, ‘OK Shawn Williams Jersey , if it doesn’t click right away then let’s go to something else.’ He’s got a lot of people talking to him and rightfully so — teammates and I’m sure college coaches,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said about Davis.

“Everybody’s trying to help him because they like him and they hate seeing anybody struggle. This is kind of blinders with, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do and let’s throw out everything else and here’s where we’ve got to get to. Here’s where we are, here’s why this problem is happening, because X is happening and let’s eliminate X.’

“Will it look completely different? I’m not sure. What I hope looks completely different are the results. Unfortunately, the games don’t stop. We need a good Chris Davis. We do. He knows that. And that’s what’s frustrating for him.”

Chen (1-3, 6.13 ERA) has lost his past three decisions and struggled to get deep into games. In his last start, he allowed four runs and six hits with five strikeouts and four walks in 4 1/3 innings against the San Francisco Giants.

“I didn’t really do my job well,” Chen said after the game.

Alex Cobb (2-8, 7.23) will take the mound for Baltimore. He is still looking to get on track.

Cobb’s last outing was his worst of the season. He allowed a career-high-tying nine runs and 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

However, he is 3-1 with a 1.78 ERA in four career starts against the Marlins, who have batted .139 during that stretch.

The Orioles are just 2-9 in Cobb’s 11 starts.

“I know you look at teams and how they react in tough situations,” Cobbsaid, and I don’t know what’s better, if everyone’s just miserable because you’re losing or people are able to come to work every day and be a good teammate and try to get out of that funk each and every day and help each other to get out of that funk.”

Baltimore is also dealing with several key injuries. Richard Bleier, who has been one of the team’s most consistent pitchers out of the bullpen, is on the disabled list with a lat injury that he sustained against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. He could be out for the season.

However, starter Andrew Cashner could be back in action Tuesday or Wednesday if he does not have any setbacks with his injured back while throwing a bullpen session Sunday.
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