Dave from Emmalena, KY

Do you think the way the defense has been playing lately has something to do with the players getting more comfortable with Jonathan Gannon and better communication during the game? Practice reps aren't the same as game reps and the starters don't play much in the preseason. The first few games didn't look so great, but they've been great since then.

The defense sees the vision and it's executing. Gannon calls the plays, but the basis of his defense is centered on trust and defenders applying schematic principles to what they see in real time. The Packers are playing fast, free and focused right now and they need to keep it going.

Doug from Salem, OR

I hope people will understand that when Micah Parsons gets back, he isn't going to be the same. Eventually, he will. But he hasn't played a game in a long time, has not even practiced yet, and has no live drills. I'll take MP on the field in any shape or form. Just temper expectations. Do you feel this way? Thanks for all you do…

This defense won't be asking Parsons to come back and play Superman. It doesn't need him to. Green Bay is playing well enough to hold its own while its All-Pro edge rusher gets back into his comfort zone. But first and foremost, Parsons needs to practice and get his feet back underneath him. Once that happens, then you start building a base to return.

Jim from Escanaba, MI

We would all rather have Parsons on the field rather than not. Given the longer than expected time needed for his return, I'm thinking it would be in the Packers' and Parsons' best interest to keep him off the field until after the Week 11 bye and hopefully have him fully healthy and ready to go for a seven-game stretch run into the playoffs.

Again, all decisions the Packers and Parsons will make in partnership with one another are to ensure we see the best, healthiest version of "Uno" as the regular season turns to winning season.

Al from Green Bay, WI

With eight games in the books, it's time for first semester grades. Certainly, Jordan Love gets an A. Which other A students would you like to name?

Christian Watson, Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams. Are there plays all three would want back over the first eight games? For sure, but the Packers wouldn't be 5-3 right now without them. Personally, watching Williams' growth from a solid Day 3 find to a franchise pillar has been fun to watch. Players, not plays? Williams has made some of the biggest this season.

Richard from Livermore, CA

With regards to Watson's quick return from the Green Bay hospital emergency room, do you think he would have had any chance of returning to the stadium to play in the second half if the game had been played at Soldier Field?

There's a reason why Ma Hod saved her shopping trips to JCPenney for Packers home games. It's fairly easy to get around the NFL's smallest city when the Packers are playing.

Glen from Leesburg, VA

The anticipation of seeing Parsons in this lineup is out of this world. However, I'd like to know about guys like Chris Brooks, Skyy Moore and Jonathan Ford. Those three guys are needle movers for this team, especially on special teams and offense. When can we expect to see any of these key contributors back in the lineup?

The Packers seemed to take a different approach to using their designations to return from injured reserve this year. Last season, they carried quite a few injured guys on the active 53 whereas Brooks, Moore, Ford, Jacob Monk and Warren Brinson all went on IR straightaway. You can designate up to eight players to return during the regular season and so far, the Packers have only used it on two: receiver Savion Williams (who's back) and edge rusher Collin Oliver. I believe Brinson is eligible to practice this week, but I don't know the full severity of that groin injury he suffered in practice last month. Brooks, Moore and Ford must miss at least one more contest.

Harold from Eau Claire, WI

Ty'Ron Hopper sorta kinda reminds me of the nasty and powerful Wayne Simmons, Packer from 1993-97.

I like that comparison. Two athletic linebackers who arrive at the ball carrier with attitude.

Gordon from Newport Beach, CA

What could happen if this team finds a running game? I believe it could be formidable.

The sky's the limit and that's what makes it frustrating.

Matt from Kula, HI

One thing I've noticed on running plays is that Packers' O-linemen often are standing rather high, like their pass blocking, while they collectively are not moving the line of scrimmage. I don't have the expertise to know if this is part of the problem, but I do remember Mike McCarthy's mantra about pad level.

Luke Butkus said the same thing Monday when we had availability with the offensive coaches – low man wins and the Packers haven't gotten enough of those victories this year. There's been meaningful progress, though. The challenge is getting all five on the offensive line synchronized off the snap consistently. Butkus likened it to a piano and getting all fingers to hit the right keys.

Paul from Eagan, MN

Why isn't Kevin Zeitler playing? If he isn't worthy of playing, why is he on the roster with that salary?

Because you never know when you're going to need those jars, Paul. The Packers have gotten healthier everywhere but center. While Aaron Banks is back at left guard, the team values how Laken Tomlinson performed in Banks' absence and want him in their starting five. They even made Tomlinson one of the captains for the coin toss against Carolina. Zeitler is ready, though. As Butkus also said Monday, Zeitler is going to help Green Bay at some point.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Wes, does this team have an identity? Fair to say the defense does. But how about the offense and special teams? Their performances have been so uneven I can only hope there is a lot more out there for them. How much can a team improve in season? At this juncture, has the ceiling been identified? Finally…Do the Packers have a true RB1? The run game would indicate no.

Well, you wanted Jordan Love to throw the football and Jordan Love is throwing the football. The Packers have proven they throw the ball at will regardless of the circumstances. They just need to get the running game figured out to complement what they can do through the air.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

Both of you stand pretty tall on sensitive issues but not on the Josh Jacobs situation. No way I am the only one that has submitted questions that have not been answered. There is just too much smoke for there not to be any fire. The way the NFL protects its brand, I fear we are going to get caught with no dependable backs running behind an O-line still trying to find five guys that can create some sort of success on the ground. Agree or not?

I understand where you're coming from. All we can go off is what we know and right now it's that the Packers anticipate moving forward with Josh Jacobs on their football team. LaFleur reiterated that Monday, as the organization allows the league to continue its investigation into the prior allegations. While I appreciate your concerns, this is a legal matter that must play out at a higher level than a daily fan Q&A in my estimation. Absent of facts, I feel it would be cavalier on my part to comment on such a serious topic until the situation has been resolved in a thorough and vigilant manner.

Steve from Ankeny, IA

Well, the Lions showed the league how to beat the Vikings' vaunted defense, run the ball right at them. We play them in two weeks, but there is one problem with that scenario!

The best way to defang an aggressive defensive front is to run the ball and create play-action opportunities. We saw incremental improvement in those areas against Carolina, especially in third-and-short, but it's going to take more to get through New England, Minnesota and Los Angeles, who all rank in the top half in NFL run defense, in succession.

James from Appleton, WI

A man offered me a paltry $4 million and I spat on his shoe.

Oh, I didn't know you play 1,000 snaps at the most important position on the offensive line for a right-handed franchise quarterback? My bad.

Troy from Westminster, CO

Yes, the athletic ability of these receivers (and everyone, frankly) is ridiculous. The catches they make in the conditions they make them continues to amaze me. But the drops are real and they're costly. It's not about how impressive certain catches would be had they come down with it, when catches are there to be had, they need to be made. Each of these receivers have had multiple drops that wouldn't be labeled as impressive catches.

OK.

Brad from Solon Springs, WI

Wes, Mike's response to Page from IL made me pertineer spit out my coffee! I read the question again and thought it could've been a Bears fan trolling the II. What do you think Wes? And thank you both for the humorous answers!

It felt like Spoff was getting Punk'd.

Dave from Wheaton, IL

Chef's kiss on the response to Page today. That individual (silly AI) is obviously a fan of the bear who stumbled into this website and has fallen prey to the ESPNafaction of sports media. I'm tired of the sports media clowns who believe that shouting stupid stuff is the way to ratings.

The timing is just odd. We all love Malik Willis, but he's thrown for 1,268 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions for the 1-6 Miami Dolphins. Meanwhile, nobody has thrown for more yards in the NFL this season than Love (2,246).

Chase from Diamond Springs, CA

We're not 5-3 without Love, that defense, and the ability of Watson and Golden to get open so frequently. I know they get credit, but it wasn't that long ago that we had Rodgers holding onto the ball for what seemed like hours trying to find an open receiver. It's pretty amazing they both keep getting open when the defense knows the shots are coming.

Another area where Love doesn't get enough credit. NFL Next Gen Stats has Love at 2.58 seconds to throw, which is fastest in the league (Caleb Williams is the longest, by the way, at 3.22). Yes, that's partly pressure but that's also a product of Love playing on time and within the offense. He's seeing the field as well as he ever has.

Kevin from Indianapolis, IN

After watching my Hoosiers kicker miss from 52 and 31, I was worried that every team I follow was destined to lose due to special teams. Then, in spectacular fashion, the backup kicker with a previous long of 21 yards hit a 60-yard FG to match the 60-yard FG that Minnesota hit about 20 seconds earlier. It got me wondering if the Packers also have a double secret backup who can hit 60-yarders.

Whelan could give it a shot, I bet.

Jerry from Green Bay, WI

Chad Ryland of Arizona is a top kicker and has seven missed kicks this year, including a missed extra point for the win Sunday. How about we stop smacking Trey Smack and let him learn? I like him as a kicker and hope they don't get rid of him.

It's been a tough year for kickers leaguewide. There are 13 guys who've made under 80% of their field goals, including Brandon Aubrey, Chris Boswell and Harrison Butker. Only nine finished under that percentage last year.

Eric from De Pere, WI

How's the playing field holding up this season? It always looks good, but grass this far north with the stadium rim quite high has to be challenging.

Allen Johnson and his team work their tails off to keep Lambeau Field in pristine condition long after all our yards are going dormant. That stretch of four games over the final five weeks of the regular season is going to put Lambeau to the test.

Michael from New Berlin, WI

Does Love have a legit chance of getting the MVP award this season? As we come up at the halfway point of the season, we as Packers fans know how valuable he is (at least most of us...looking at you, Page from Evanston, IL) but the usual three of Allen, Mahomes and Jackson seem to always get the recognition. At least we won't be hearing about Jackson this year.

I don't know based on how Associated Press voters handle MVP, but Love is two years overdue for a Pro Bowl selection. Right now, I'd argue Love and Jared Goff as the two bona fide Pro Bowlers on the NFC side of the bracket. For me, the third is a pick 'em between Brock Purdy and Matthew Stafford. We're only halfway home.

Mike from Glendale, CA

Good morning! I'm predicting today's the day the NFL announces the move of the Packers-Vikings rematch to a 3:25 p.m. kickoff. As it stands right now, FOX only has the now 3-5 Cowboys and Niners in the late window.

I don't really care about what time the Packers play unless I have a Rise Against concert in Milwaukee the night before…which worked to my disadvantage with the Bears game getting flexed from 3:25 to noon.

Nolan from Wisconsin Rapids, WI

For all the naysayers right now, we can all agree that this season hasn't gone as well as we hoped, but after watching the Chargers fall to 0-7, I'm OK with where GB is at. It is amazing to me that LAC was picked to be a playoff team but can hardly score (with a good QB in Justin Herbert) and is still winless!

I did not see the Chargers starting 0-7, but it speaks to two things you hear all the time: It is hard to win in this league, and success one season does not guarantee anything the next. Have a good Tuesday.

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