Inbox: 10 out of 10. Would recommend

James from Albuquerque, NM

With Micah Parsons back in the practice mode, and his presence on the sideline, this has to be a major boost for the defense. Am I right? Thanks for all you do.

It's a major boost for everyone in this building. Roger in Facilities even had a little more pep in his step, which I did not know was possible.

Robert from Verona, WI

My II education has taught me that Micah Parsons won't take the field until his body is believed to be 100% ready to take the abuse that comes with playing the game. Despite that education, I still wonder if they won't scheme up ways to use him early on that won't require a consistent and repeated "full load" of taking on a 300-pound OL directly. Do you think they'll try to incorporate some stunts for Parsons as a way to ease him back in or just put him out there to do his thing on a snap count?

Parsons himself admitted he's still getting his body and his wind back. But while Parsons won't take 100% of the snaps when cleared for an in-game return, he and the team will have a plan for how to best utilize whatever reps he's available. Please check out Mike’s story if you haven't read it already. Parsons was terrific while explaining after practice all the ups and downs of his rehab. "Uno" is getting closer, with Wednesday marking the step in a long journey for the four-time All-Pro.

Ron from Roscoe, IL

This is not really a math question: Four of the remaining nine games on the road. So far Pack has won two road games and lost two. Win at least two more on the road and all the remaining home games and suddenly it's a 12-win season. Considering two of the home games are against the NFC North, could that be enough to win the division? Of course, it means fans to show up and make home field advantage really mean something! Go Pack Go!

Just beat the Pats, but we've known since June where the strength of the Packers' lies. Five of the last seven at Lambeau. Then, you have four of the last five with a puddle-jumper flight to Chicago sandwich between back-to-back home stands. I'd call that hay-making season.

Stephen from Wadsworth, OH

Thanks II for all your work and patience. Can anyone explain the absurdity of all the overhype Caleb Williams receives? There's an article stating he might make MVP without playing a complete season. I get it – the Bears haven't had a top-notch quarterback in some time (ever?), but the dude misses plenty of throws, has had his fair share of luck, and has a good team stacked around him. Yes, I admit bias. Go Pack Go!

Chicago has taken a lifetime of swings in search of a franchise QB, but it's finally found one in Williams. I've said this a few times now, but I see Williams as a blend of Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers. He sees the field well, protects the football and can extend plays with his feet in a dangerous manner. I wonder when he'll let it rip, though. Maybe that'll come with time, but if this is what Williams is, Chicago needs offensive ingenuity, a capable running game and a difference-making defense to complement him. The good news for Bears fans is they have all three at the moment.

Keith from Canada

Whoa guys! The Bears picked up a stud in Jeff Simmons, and he sure showed it against Seattle. Not only that, but his play opened the door for Montez Sweat coming off the edge. And Williams has the offense rolling even without one of his best running backs. Can you see them taking the top spot in the North? And if the Vikings pick up Jonathan Taylor, the Pack and the Lions could be fighting for that seventh playoff spot.

There's half a season left for hypotheticals, but I agree that's the best Sweat has looked since he got to Chicago by far. Yes, it's totally fair to say the Bears are the favorites, but is that really a surprise? They literally said after beating Carolina 59-37 in Week 1 that it was going to be their worst performance of the year. When you spend the resources and invest the future capital that the Bears have, you should be considered the favorites and anything short of that is a massive letdown.

Pat from Peoria, IL

I didn't know that Jordan Love threw a no-look pass on the Tucker Kraft touchdown. I just watched the replay, and I couldn't believe what I saw. It was a perfect throw between two defenders, and it was right on the money! The pass needed to be, or it would have been intercepted. The fact he wasn't even looking in his direction puts that pass on a whole different level…it might be his best throw this year. What do you think?

Kraft needed to catch that one or it was going directly through his body with the force Love put on that ball. Bang-bang football like that is beautiful to watch. Otherworldly.

Collin from Brookland, AR

Can we go ahead and start talking about Jordan Love for MVP this season and get it floating into the zeitgeist? Leads the league in yards and touchdowns and is the literal definition of an MVP considering the O-line and running game. He still gets to go head-to-head with Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, Matthew Stafford and Josh Allen this year, so he definitely has a chance. No one in pro football is playing better right now.

I suppose if I post this here that should help with Google SEO. If Love keeps this up in the second half and leads the Packers to a fourth straight playoff appearance, he absolutely needs to be in the conversation for MVP. Green Bay wouldn't be where it is right now without him. More on that later this morning on packers dot (Vic inflection) com.

Mike from Novato, CA

No question, more of a comment. You mentioned the Packers may be rating Aaron Banks differently than outsiders. This week, after Ty'Ron Hopper's one INT, one sack, multiple pass breakups and tackles, PFF had him ranked as our second-worst defender, and third-worst starter overall. So maybe outsiders' opinions can offer some insight, they're no more infallible than anyone else's.

PFF has its opinion and I have mine…and I've long been a fan of Hopper's. He's a third-year veteran but only now playing regularly on defense. While players get comfortable, you know what I want to see? Plays and Hopper's making them. In the end, there is one grade that matters and that's winning.

Ross from Hudson, WI

In the offseason, I was, if not excited, very optimistic about the signing of Benjamin St-Juste. He has played exactly one snap this season. What is his current situation?

Unfortunately, St-Juste has had a couple hamstring flareups during the first half and missed a few games. That said, he was brought here as a defensive insurance policy who could also contribute on special teams. Knock on wood, but cornerback has been one of the healthiest positions on the roster this year absent St-Juste's handful of missed games. Keisean Nixon is playing at a high level right now, Brandon Cisse arrived earlier than most of us expected from a 21-year-old and Javon Bullard is home in the slot. That's limited the opportunities for St-Juste and Carrington Valentine so far.

Al from Green Bay, WI

Wes, going into training camp, the greatest perceived area of weakness on this Packers team was at the cornerback position. But the critics have been very quiet. How would you evaluate the CB performance at this stage of the season, and how much of the success can be attributed to great safety play?

Nixon is a really good cornerback and one of the best pound-for-pound free-agent signings that Green Bay has had since the turn of the century. His physicality fits Jonathan Gannon's scheme perfectly, as well. The Packers have a good thing going there.

Brian from Pensacola, FL

I know you can't win without both, but on Sunday, which side needs to show up more? Offense or defense?

For the sake of the outlook of the season, the offense. For the sake of the game, probably the defense. The Packers still haven't allowed more than 20 points since that loss to Atlanta in the home opener. Such stinginess will keep you in a lot of games.

Laurent from Canada

Tuesday's II headline had me looking into Evan Williams' stats for the season. While currently "only" the seventh leading combined tackler with 71 tackles, he is an astounding second in solo tackles with 43 only behind Alex Singleton (48). In fact, most of the players in the leaderboard are linebackers, which makes sense since they defend the run and pass. Very impressive how Williams has been deployed this year. His versatility has allowed him to be very involved. A resurgence of the STAR position?

Bullard and Williams are so much more than just positional labels, but staying within parameters, it's been wild watching the progression of Green Bay's safety play since they've arrived. It's a day and night difference on defense.

Tom from Dubuque, IA

I haven't heard anything about the condition of Jayden Reed. Has there been any update on his condition or the seriousness of his condition? Thanks.

It sounds like Reed is doing well, but there hasn't been an update from the organization on the football front.

James from Farmington, NM

Good morning, Insiders. I know there is a lot trade talks right now, so I want your perspective in retrospect to the Marshawn Lynch trade in 2010? The Seahawks gave the Bills a fourth and sixth for him, and he became a Pro Bowler for many years. I just wonder how many more Super Bowls that Green Bay would have won for such a low sacrifice in draft picks? Would you have made that trade knowing what you know now? Is there someone who could make a similar impact now for a reasonable price?

It doesn't work that way, James. You cannot isolate butterfly effects. Packers could've won two Super Bowls or none…like Buffalo did. You just never know.

Joe from Palatine, IL

I disagree with Spoff's take on the RTP and taunting penalties in that Detroit game. They can "set the tone" early but do it before the game then. I don't need people teaching lessons during a game that can basically determine the outcome. Refs are REALLY turning people off on the NFL, especially what we pay to see our teams play. Other pro sports leagues have figured this stuff out...why can't the NFL?

If you want to emphasize something, legislate it with fines like they did with the "crown of the helmet" and "hip-drop tackle" emphases. Otherwise, it's just for show. Like James Jones said on Packers pregame radio last week, we all know what roughing the passer looks like. I just wish the refs did, too.

Jeremy from Redding, CA

Happy Wednesday! ATMR (WCBW), there are have been 16 times when the Packers were flagged with a 15-yard personal foul type penalty. Through Week 7, only three of those penalties resulted in fines. To me, this is an admission by the league that mistakes were made, and flags should not have been thrown. When will the league hold the officials accountable?

When the sun rises in the West and sets in the East.

Michael from Eau Claire, WI

I appreciated Cindy from Mesa's insight about gametime ER visits. I also chuckled at her comment that the Packers probably paid for the imaging machine. The one thing I have always enjoyed and taken particular pride in at Packers shareholder meetings is the report on the Packers' charitable activities – both locally and statewide. The Packers is football. Happily, the Packers are also great corporate citizens. GPG!

Learn something new every day.

Chuck from Whitewater, WI

As one of the "senior" II readers, when Christian Watson climbed out of the ambulance, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who wondered if the Packers have to pay for TWO ambulance rides.

If so, it was well worth it considering how badly Green Bay needed that late third-down conversion.

Kevin from Arlington Heights, IL

Less of a question, more of a statement. I completely get the call for Trey Smack to be cut, but do the people calling for that think that there are amazing kickers out there just waiting to be signed? We're in Week 9 of the season, anyone we bring in now will likely struggle as well. Our best bet is just letting Smack try to work it out the rest of the season and reevaluate in 2027.

It ain't easy to find kickers this time of year. The teams struggling with made kicks – and it's in the double digits – pretty much shuffle kickers amongst each other. The Packers understood the challenge and responsibility that comes with developing a rookie kicker. Smack is the guy.

Dennis from Rhinelander, WI

After the Vikings' loss on Sunday, do you have any idea how many of the 1972 Dolphins are still around to toast their undefeated season?

According to the Miami Herald, there were 23 surviving players after Manny Fernandez's passing in May.

Wenzel from Tomah, WI

Did something go wrong? I am not finding Ed Policy's November message. Just keep winning, baby.

Policy's Perspective runs the first Saturday of each month, which is this upcoming Saturday (Nov. 7).

Carl from Greenville, WI

WES! Rise Against?! ... As a greasy young man in the early '00s my band opened for them at a "Punk in Point" show at UWSP! I have always enjoyed your (and Mike's) writing but you just became even more relatable. Not expecting a response just wanted to say, "Hell yeah!" Keep up the phenomenal work, fellas! GO PACK!

I enjoy going to concerts, but I'm pretty sure that was my first one with a mosh pit since Slipknot came to the Resch Center like 20 years ago. All the credit goes to Tom Grossi, who is a massive Rise Against fan and brought me along for the ride. We had the privilege of meeting Tim McIllrath after the show, and he could not have been kinder.

Mike from Minneapolis, MN

Wes, Rise Against is kind of like the Jordan Love of punk rock. Incredible, makes unique songs most other bands can't and yet doesn't get enough respect or accolades. I'm jealous you got to see them in concert!

10 out of 10. Would recommend, both the band and the quarterback. Have a great Thursday.

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