The Tribune

By INIGO 'NAUGHTY' ZENICAZELAYA

As we edge closer to real football, and the start of the NFL season, we continue our division by division camp preview. This week we take a look at the NFC NORTH.

• CHICAGO BEARS

Training camp report dates: rookies (July 19) and veterans (July 26).Location: Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, Illinois.

HOTTEST POSITION BATTLE IN CAMP - WR. The Bears enter training camp with a host of second-fiddle wideouts. Former first-round pick Kevin White has the talent to be the go-to target, but he needs to stay healthy, having appeared in just four games through two years in the NFL.

A receiver that was a steal for me in Fantasy Football last season, Cameron Meredith is a sleeper. He proved last year he’s a capable weapon (888 yards, four touchdowns, 13.5 yards per catch), but he’s not someone defences fear. Beyond that, the Bears have a host of veteran retreads and young, low-upside players. Markus Wheaton, Victor Cruz, Kendall Wright, Rueben Randle, Deonte Thompson and Josh Bellamy are all battling for a roster spot.

Look for Wheaton to make it, with Cruz and Wright battling for the last spot, the rest will be cut!

BIGGEST OFFSEASON ADDITION - First round pick QB Mitchell Trubisky. Duh.

The Bears will play Mike Glennon initially, however from Day 1 of camp, all eyes will be on Trubisky. If he is lights-out it will be a story. If he is hitting offensive linemen in the head with passes and tossing wormburners, it will be a story. For better or worse, Trubisky is the future under centre for the Bears.

With jobs on the line for the coaching staff, it’s sink or swim with the first rounder.

BIGGEST Camp Question Mark - The Secondary. The Bears attempted to upgrade a mediocre secondary by adding Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper at corner and Quintin Demps at safety. The secondary needs to see vast improvement for the Bears’ defence to have any chance in 2017.

• DETROIT LIONS

Training camp report dates: rookies (July 24) and veterans (July 29).Location: Lions Training Facility, Allen Park, Michigan.

HOTTEST POSITION BATTLE IN CAMP - Offensive Line, LT. In all honesty, losing left tackle Taylor Decker to a torn labrum was about the worst thing that could have happened to the Lions’ offence.

An offensive line that looked to be a rebuilt strength heading into 2017 now has a glaring hole on Stafford’s blind side??????

BIGGEST OFFSEASON ADDITION - LB Jarad Davis. The first-round pick out of Florida is slated to start immediately in the middle of Detroit’s defence. Davis was already calling the Lions’ defensive alignments during offseason workouts. His progress and work ethic through camp and the preseason will be worth watching for a Detroit defence sorely needing the tackling and athleticism he can provide.

BIGGEST Camp Question Mark - The Secondary. The Lions head to training camp set for a battle for the nickel corner spot.

Free agent D.J. Hayden could have the inside track, but Quandre Diggs will get a shot at the job after recovering from a pectoral injury. Is rookie Teez Tabor ready to step into a role opposite Darius Slay?

• GREEN BAY PACKERS

Training camp report dates: rookies and veterans (July 26).Location: St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wisconsin.

HOTTEST POSITION BATTLE IN CAMP - We know Montgomery is slated for the bulk of the backfield duties heading into the 2017 season. Can any of the young tailbacks cut into the former receiver’s snaps? Fourth-round pick Jamaal Williams enters camp as the most likely to carve out a role as an early-down runner. Fifth-round pick Aaron Jones owns big-play ability and could see the field as a pass-catching back. If either of the rookies display consistency in camp, he could serve a major role in 2017.

BIGGEST OFFSEASON ADDITION - TE Martellus Bennett. Bennett is an upgrade over last year’s free-agent signee at tight end, Jared Cook, in the passing game and as a run-blocker.

At 6-foot-6, Bennett should feast in the red zone for this diverse passing attack. Bennett will also thrive when Rodgers vamps and extends plays.

BIGGEST Camp Question Mark - The Secondary. This seems to be a theme in this division, everybody’s secondary sucks. So please no more referring to the alleged weak secondary in Dallas. Green Bay’s pass defence was painful to watch in 2016. The unit routinely made third-and-long a pitch-and-catch prospect for opposing offences.

GM Ted Thompson brought veteran Davon House - who spent the past two seasons in Jacksonville after starting his career in Green Bay - back into the mix. He also used second-round picks on cornerbacks Kevin King and Josh Jones.

• MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Training camp report dates: rookies (July 23) and veterans (July 26).Location: Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota.

HOTTEST POSITION BATTLE IN CAMP - Running back. Second-round pick Dalvin Cook enters camp ahead of veteran addition Latavius Murray for the feature-back role in Minnesota -- Murray missing offseason workouts following ankle surgery gave the multipurpose Cook the lead heading into camp.

Will the rookie hold onto the gig?

BIGGEST OFFSEASON ADDITION - Offensive Line, the signings of Offensive Linemen Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers.

The Vikings deployed one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL last season, which nearly got quarterback Sam Bradford killed.

Reiff and Remmers are major question marks after average play with the Lions and Panthers, respectively. Reiff was moved to right tackle in Detroit but will swing back to left tackle in Minnesota.

BIGGEST Camp Question Mark - WR Laquon Treadwell The first-round pick in 2016 barely saw the field as a rookie.

His 80 offensive snaps last year were four fewer than Adrian Peterson (who played just three games) and six more than backup QB Shaun Hill.

He won’t pass Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen on the depth chart, but he should battle Jarius Wright and Michael Floyd (suspended for four games) for the No. 3 gig.

Until next week, be safe, I’m off to stock up on tailgate essentials early!!