Inbox: He just has to do his job

Sean from Chicago, IL

Should've heeded Wes's advice and not looked up Notre Dame's incoming recruits. Between that and turning 30 in a month, I think I should go ahead and stock up on some icy hot patches.

I would love to be worried about turning 30 again.

Matt from Bloomington, IN

With all due respect to Tight End University, I'd say the end zone is where Tucker Kraft belongs. Here's hoping to a huge year for him!

Good line, and I like the way you think. But what's cool is Kraft doesn't actually need a huge year for this offense to be really good.

Dave from Wheaton, IL

With regard to Chris from Waukesha about Larry Fitzgerald, a few years back when the Cardinals came to Lambeau, my young cousin from Phoenix joined me at the game. We had dinner the night before at the hotel where the road team stayed. He's worked in sports talk but wasn't working that game. When we sat down, Larry recognized him and made the two of us feel special. A real good guy.

By all accounts his late father was the same way, so that doesn't surprise me.

Chuck from Richfield, WI

I liked the question Mick (UK) posed about Packers who played only for us from draft to retirement. I never met Mason Crosby, but I wonder if this classy guy regretted his cup of coffee with the Giants for a few games preventing him from sporting this "one and only" moniker. Thoughts?

I can't answer that for Mason. I know it's difficult for players to walk away when they still believe they can play the game and help a team win. My suspicion is they'd rather regret a cup of coffee somewhere else to see if they can keep going than wonder whether they hung it up too soon.

Brian from Chaska, MN

Great article by Wes on the young offensive line. Now that Jordan Morgan is finally playing his natural position at left tackle full-time, what are the internal expectations for his leap in Year 3? Do the Packers view him as a potential Pro Bowl-caliber blindside protector right away, or is there an expected learning curve after two years of shuffling around?

There's an expected learning curve to playing left tackle in the NFL, two years of shuffling or not. Nobody's asking Morgan to make the Pro Bowl in 2026. He just has to do his job, while growing and improving along the way.

Dawson from Eveleth, MN

What are your thoughts about Jordan Morgan so far in his career? I understand it is still early but it has not been the productivity of a first-round lineman so far. Do you think that this is a make-or-break year for him?

Morgan has been a team player his first two seasons, lining up wherever asked and doing his best. Now that he's at the spot he was drafted to play, the season will go a long way in determining whether he's a long-term answer there. I say "the season" because there will be plenty of pundits out there providing their definitive take after three or four games.

David from De Pere, WI

Players that are drafted are obviously scouted and evaluated to a ridiculous degree. Often after a few non-padded OTA practices there are one or two players that are raved about by the team (Jager Burton seems to be the one this year). How is the team able to see something in a few June practices that wasn't evident by the extensive scouting over several years. If he is that good, why did they wait until the fifth round to call his name?

The only answer I can give you is football players in their early 20s aren't finished products. If anyone had the answer to your last question, there'd never be an All-Pro left tackle drafted in the fourth round, an All-Pro center drafted in the fifth, or a seven-time Super Bowl-winning QB drafted in the sixth.

Audie from Ada, OK

This may have already been asked but are there specific players that you are looking to make a significant jump in productivity this season?

The list of starters or projected regulars for whom it's unrealistic to expect "a significant jump" over their peak NFL performance is much shorter than the list you're asking for. Xavier McKinney, Javon Hargrave, Zaire Franklin, Micah Parsons, Josh Jacobs, Zach Tom, Aaron Banks … they need to be who they are and do what they've done. Everybody else's best football might still be out there. They won't all reach it, but if enough do, the ceiling for this team changes.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

Do teams change their terminology from year to year or add new language from time to time? When a coach leaves and joins another team (like when GB plays Miami), won't Miami know exactly the play the Packers are running?

Teams change their signals and verbal checks at the line almost on a weekly basis due to what's on film and what the TV mikes pick up. But short of a defender being in the huddle or the headset communication getting tapped, the opponent doesn't know what play is called.

Chuck from Mexico

I've been curious about how many substitutions are made during a game. Can you give us your viewpoint? Seems like there is probably an outline produced prior to the game that's OK'd by the HC, OC & DC and then the position coaches decide at the moment. Perhaps, the HC says I want Watson in for this play or the DC says I need Wyatt in this situation from time to time. Your thoughts?

Both sides of the ball have various personnel groupings, and the coaches know who's in each one, with in-game adjustments made based on injuries, performance, etc. To follow your example, if the offensive play-caller wants Christian Watson in for a particular play, then he'll go with a personnel package that includes him. Asking for a personnel group that doesn't include him and subbing Watson in for somebody else at the last minute is how the play clock runs out.

Paul from South Yorkshire, UK

Thanks for the fascinating insight into how the game plans are constructed. This may sound like a cynical question but I assure you it is out of genuine curiosity following critical game situations last season. Is an offensive game plan likely to contain a set of sensible plays to call at the start of a drive when the defensive unit needs to recover after conceding a 15-play drive?

It doesn't work like that. I get the frustration with the offense taking a deep shot when the defense needs a rest – which seems to be the genesis of your question – but the offensive play-caller is trying to get first downs, and sometimes the game happens. What I mean by that is this: Those decisions can happen organically, on the fly. If you've game-planned and practiced all week to check to a certain route against a particular matchup or defensive alignment, it's in the plan because the odds very much tilt in the offense's favor when that presents itself. So you can't exactly tell the QB, "But don't check to it now because the defense is tired," and just run called plays into disadvantageous looks. That's bad football. You call a play, see how the defense reacts, and play the game. If you believe in your planning and your players, the successes in those situations will outweigh the failures and improve your chances to win. But sometimes those plays fail, and a one-on-one sideline ball on third-and-2 that doesn't connect looks awful and doesn't help your tired defense. The coaches who do this for a living will tell you that shot vs. single coverage has a better chance of success than running it on third-and-2 into a nine-man box, or trying to hit a quick stop route vs. press coverage. But all the armchair QBs out there will never be convinced when it doesn't work in that particular moment.

Jeffery from Monticello, WI

Hi guys, will Devonte Wyatt start the season on the PUP list?

I've heard nothing one way or another.

John from Stevens Point, WI

What is the Packers' cap situation heading into camp? Is the cap locked at the start of the season? Do the Packers have cap room if they need to make an in-season move, should they need a player or two to make a deep playoff run?

There's always an in-season piggy bank of cap space for any contingencies, whether they be injury replacements, additional acquisitions, maybe a contract extension. It's there if needed. If not, it carries over.

Vince from Warm Springs, GA

Morning Mike and Wes! Can you help me make sense of the latest NFL trend in canceling all or part of OTAs/minicamp? MLF let the vets go a week early. Two teams canceled their minicamps entirely. Others ended early. Not that long ago, with the restrictions of the last two CBAs, coaches often talked about the need for more efficiency due to lack of time with the players. Some even begrudged a day for so-called team-building exercises. What in the (heck) is going on out there?

There are various reasons that could apply, in whole or in part, to the trend. Except for mandatory minicamp, the rest of the offseason program (workouts, OTAs, meetings, etc.) is voluntary, and when participation is strong, coaches like to reward that level of commitment from their players. If they feel they've gotten the necessary work in, practicing for the sake of practicing probably isn't worth the risk of injury. Plus, there's only so much that can be accomplished without pads on, and the first three days of training camp will be non-padded practices anyway.

Christian from Metairie, LA

Hello Mes Spofkiewicz, finally some real offseason journalism and legit power rankings. A member of the Eagles media ranked the press box food for all 32 teams, the Bears were 29th and the Packers were 21st. Any memorable high/lowlights of press box culinary delights?

Ranking the Soldier Field press box food 29th is … generous.

Alan from Fresno, CA

Caleb from Tacoma asked if the Bears are actually as good as their record. If I may borrow from Coach Dennis Green in describing the Bears back in 2006, at the end of the season we will be saying, "They are who we thought they were!"

I think the Bears are talented, they have a rising star at QB, and there's no denying Johnson's coaching and leadership have made a difference. I've said all offseason the big question for the Bears is whether they can win as many games if they don't get 30-plus takeaways, because that is their big statistical variable from 2025 that's most likely to change.

John from Palmdale, CA

Two thoughts on who really owned the NFC North last year. We were 4-2 and if Rome covers the onside kick and we had a healthy team playing Minnesota we probably sweep the division. I feel like the Bears were better than their record in '24 but worse in '25. What do you think, El Jefe?

The Bears won the division in 2025. They're the defending NFC North champs. Getting back to winning the division, which the Packers haven't done since 2021, would get Green Bay a better playoff seed and at least one playoff game at home. That's what I think.

Jerry from Boynton Beach, FL

You've probably answered this before, but what do the coaches do between OTAs and training camp? Family time? Planning for the season? Some of both?

Correct.

Johan from Evansville, IN

Like Rex, I also participated in a tour at Lambeau last week. My first time inside the hallowed grounds! Too bad we missed you, Spoff, as we were there Saturday afternoon. It is truly a unique feeling driving through the little city and then just seeing a massive football stadium. Stocked up on Spotted Cow and kringles for when the baloney stops!

Baloney aside, can't say I've heard of that food/drink combo before, but good luck with it.

David from Hilliard, OH

Good morning IIers, will the "tarps off" craze arrive at Lambeau Field this season?

Still a month to go in the dead zone, I see.

Jay from Lutz, FL

Do you think the starting offense should play in preseason, to knock the rust off?

(Sigh.) Happy Friday.

HAVE A QUESTION?