Training camp is just days away, formally kicking off the battle for the NFC North in 2026. The Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings all finished above .500 last season, and each team is confident that the division is theirs for the taking.
However, none of these squads are the clear favorites to come out on top. They each have their glaring issues that need to be answered during the summer. Whoever answers their most pressing question(s) the best could not only take the NFC North, but possibly go on a deep playoff run.
So, without further ado, let's discuss the Lions, Packers, Vikings and Bears' biggest storylines heading into camp.
Every NFC North team's most pressing question for 2026 heading into training camp
Can the Chicago Bears' defense maintain their knack for takeaways?
The Bears' turnaround under first-year head coach Ben Johnson was every bit as miraculous as quarterback Caleb Williams' seven total comeback victories. They were expected to improve in 2025, but to win the division and be an overtime loss away from the NFC Championship game? Few could say they predicted that entering last season without bias clouding their vision.
The Bears will now have to defend their NFC North title, and perhaps the biggest question surrounding the sustainability of their success is their ability to generate takeaways. Their 33 turnovers forced topped the league in 2025, with departed safety Kevin Byard pacing all players with seven interceptions. Cornerback Nahshon Wright, who also left in free agency this offseason, had five INTs of his own, along with three fumble recoveries.
Byard and Wright signed with the New England Patriots and New York Jets, respectively. That's nearly half of the Bears' total takeaways no longer with the team. Chicago won all but two of those games where either ball-hawking defensive back recorded a takeaway — their first and final game of the regular season.
Signings such as safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Devin Bush should alleviate some of the concerns, as they combined for seven takeaways in 2025. But is it enough to make up for those losses in a category that historically varies and is difficult to be consistently elite in?
Can Micah Parsons and Tucker Kraft pick up where they left off for the Green Bay Packers?
You don't have to tell Lions fans how devastating injuries can be, but the second-place Packers dealt with huge setbacks of their own.
Tight end Tucker Kraft suffered a torn ACL in Week 9 last season, while EDGE Micah Parsons suffered the same in Week 15. Both were particularly disastrous for the Packers, as Kraft was arguably on the fast track for First-Team All-Pro honors, posting 489 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions in his eight weeks of play. Parsons was Green Bay's prized acquisition last offseason, earning All-Pro First Team honors despite getting hurt, recording 12.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
READ MORE: Analysts call on the Lions to answer lingering questions in training camp
The Packers sorely missed Parsons and Kraft in their stunning playoff collapse against the Bears, and with a rather subdued offseason, they're banking on both not missing a beat upon their return. The latter is expected to be ready to go to start the season, and the former is expected to be sidelined until around mid-October.
Their ability to return isn't much of a concern, thanks to medical advancements in the past decade. Rather, how will they look upon getting back in the lineup? Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill made an October return from his 2024 ACL tear and looked like a shell of his former elite self. Will the same happen with Parsons and Kraft? Will they need a season to get back up to speed, like McNeill?
Is the Minnesota Vikings answer at QB currently on their roster?
Few, if any, playoff-caliber teams have a more obvious question mark than the third-place Vikings heading into training camp: are they better at QB?
The Vikings were collectively terrible at the position in 2025. Vikings passers threw more INTs (21) than touchdowns (18), along with a paltry 2,834 yards. They managed a completion percentage of 61.8 percent and a passer rating of 75.3, and those numbers are slightly inflated by running back Cam Akers' 32-yard TD pass in his lone attempt.
It almost defies logic that the Vikings finished 9-8 with the trio of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer, but it's a testament to the overall strength of their roster. In 2026, the three signal-callers will be joined by former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray, who hopes to be the latest veteran QB to see a career revival with the help of head coach Kevin O'Connell.
Murray figures to be a firm enough upgrade, and McCarthy has another year of development under his belt. As the two battle it out for the Vikings' starting job, can either prove they can be the answer at QB long-term and help Minnesota reach its full potential?
Are the Detroit Lions' changes to the Offensive line enough?
The offensive line was a disaster for the last-place Lions in 2025. Their potential Hall of Fame center, Frank Ragnow, retired well after the draft and free agency. Veteran Graham Glasgow had to make an unexpected shift back to center. That left rookie Tate Ratledge and second-year pro Christian Mahogany to handle the guard spots with zero regular-season NFL games under their belt heading into the season.
Offensive tackle Penei Sewell was as elite as ever, but his fellow tackle, Taylor Decker, struggled with injuries. The overall result was franchise passer Jared Goff being sacked a career-high 38 times, and star RB Jahmyr Gibbs playing inconsistently down the stretch.
READ MORE: Ranking the NFC North's top 4 QB's entering the 2026 NFL season
The Lions set out to fix this, signing center Cade Mays in free agency and drafting former Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller in the first round of the NFL Draft. They also added veterans Larry Borom, Juice Scruggs and Ben Bartch, with the latter two competing with Mahogany for a starting LG role. Decker is now gone, leaving Sewell to shift over to his original position and protect Goff's blindside.
Is that enough? On paper, the unit looks better, but it takes time for an O-line to gel together. It takes time for a right tackle to get used to playing LT again. It takes time for a rookie to adjust to the NFL. How long will that take, and will that patience pay off?
If the Bears, Packers, and Vikings adequately answer their own burning questions, the Lions are definitely going to need a strong starting five to compete. It may very well be the deciding factor between the Lions reclaiming the NFC North crown and another last-place finish.
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