Patrick from Port Washington, WI

What are your thoughts on the Packers potentially making a splash trade to acquire Micah Parsons or Trey Hendrickson?

Siri, play "Broken Window Serenade" by Whiskey Myers.

Dustin from Kansas City, MO

The march to the 53-man roster feels almost Shakespearean, with triumph and heartbreak intertwined. For every player whose dream comes true, there are many others who see their dream end in silence. As writers who get to see both sides, how do you capture that bittersweet reality without losing sight of the human element?

My focus is always on the achievement. Because it is an accomplishment to make any NFL roster regardless if you're a first-round pick or the longest of longshots. I think of Robert Tonyan making the Packers' 53-man roster in 2018 after spending the previous year flying across the country for NFL tryouts. Or Chris Banjo attending two rookie minicamps on tryout but not signing anywhere until Green Bay called 16 months later because Ryan McMahon didn't work out. For every setback – such as Allen Lazard not making the team in 2019 or Bo Melton in 2023 – there is also jubilation when guys do break through. Today is the hardest day of the year but also the most rewarding.

Johnny from Fort Myers, FL

I don't envy one bit the decisions that Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst have to make now. Which one of them usually leads the discussions and decision-making?

There's constant conversation between the personnel department and the coaching staff, but the buck stops at Gutekunst's desk. When the press release goes out later today with the Packers' roster moves, it'll be Gutekunst's name attached to the announcement…as it should be.

Rick from Shawano, WI

With only a few spots up for grabs, it may well come down to a choice of the most optimal veteran experienced and special-teams capable candidates getting the nod over younger but not much capacity for special teams. Skewing this team older and with a high-floor, low-ceiling. How do you see it?

It's a balancing act with how teams use those final five spots on their 53-man roster. Nowadays, you can redshirt young players (e.g. Rasheed Walker in 2023) while having the ability to elevate established veterans from the practice squad to the gameday roster (e.g. Corey Ballentine in 2023). How the Packers weigh a young player's long-term potential against the present-day value of a core special teamer is one of the biggest decisions Gutekunst must make today.

Ryan from Chippewa Falls, WI

I'm not saying my head was sewn to the carpet, but trading a draft pick for an OL was far down on my list of possibilities. I thought BG had tough decisions to make at that position, looks like he just made one. What does this tell you about the jars on the OL?

Gutekunst went to the grocery store and saw something he liked in the offensive line aisle. Darian Kinnard is largely an unknown having played in just three NFL games with one start, but there are three years of experience there. Count me curious how the rest of the O-line shuffles out.

Davy from Watertown, WI

Let's hope Kinnard can keep his streak alive. Playing in three regular-season games over three seasons and coming out of it with three Super Bowl rings is just ridiculous, in the best possible way.

I don't think anyone would argue against Kinnard continuing that streak in Green Bay. It also just shows you how random life in the NFL can be sometimes.

Jim from Westland, MI

So, sixth-round pick yields depth... yeah... no, no one saw that coming.

The Packers executing a trade for Kinnard didn't surprise me. Gutekunst did it last year with Malik Willis. What caught me off-guard was it being a 2027 draft pick, not 2026.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Wes, I imagine you entered this "season" with a certain level of excitement based on your expectations for this Packers team. Where is that needle now after training camp? Has it gone up, down, stayed the same?

It goes up every day I watch Matthew Golden.

Detlef from Breitenstein, Germany

Hello Insiders. Some years ago, teams first had to cut down to 75 and I think only one week later to 53. Why was that two-staged approach discontinued? And why have it in the first place?

I have no idea why the league kept futzing with that. They got rid of the cut to 75, then brought it back and did away with it again. It not only was a bad look for players to be among those first wave of cuts but also left teams with fewer available players for the preseason finale. It's back to where it should be now. Hopefully, the NFL leaves it there.

Craig from Brookfield, WI

With all teams cutting to 53, no doubt the Packer personnel staff (like everyone) will be sorting through the carnage to see if they can improve their weaknesses. Can you recall any past pickups from the 53 cuts that went on to great careers for the Pack?

Claiming Jarrett Bush in 2006 and signing John Kuhn in 2007 were two big ones of the Ted Thompson era. More recently, Brian Gutekunst brought in Zayne Anderson (from Buffalo) and Ben Sims (from Minnesota) in 2023.

Marin from West Lawn, PA

If there is such a thing, which of the two scenarios is the more difficult? One, making the decisions on cut-down day? Or, in the days following the making of the 53-man roster and practice squad, deciding which player to let go of to make room for another player released by another team?

I'd say today is more difficult. You're not only trimming the roster by 40% but also doing so without knowledge of which players might get claimed on waivers (see: Hill, Taysom). The dust largely settles after Tuesday. If the team brings a player in, chances are it's cutting from the same position like the Packers did in 2022 when they signed Rudy Ford and waived Micah Abernathy.

Dan from the UK

Would Gutey, knowing that he was going to cut a player, try to trade for draft capital or hope to sneak him through to the practice squad?

It depends on the player and depth of the position. A few years ago, Gutekunst traded Cole Van Lanen to Jacksonville for a seventh-round pick after the former Wisconsin tackle spent his rookie season on Green Bay's practice squad.

Brian from Trego, WI

Do you think Bo Melton has the added value of being able to primarily play defense but also as an extra receiver should the need arise due to injuries during games?

I sure do and I believe the injuries Green Bay has battled at receiver during training camp speaks to that.

James from Eagle, ID

First, nice explanation on the center designation of the "Mike" defender. The question is regarding the first quarter interception by Seattle. Watching the game broadcast by the Seattle network, there was no discussion whether that ball was actually caught. It looked to me that the ball was loose between the defender's hands when he and the ball hit the ground. Was that really a catch or did Matt LaFleur just decide not to challenge the call?

All turnovers are automatically reviewed, so they definitely looked at it. I am a bit uneasy heading into the regular season after how the game ended in Indianapolis and the ruling on that interception. Fingers crossed for a calmer wake once this tide turns to the regular season.

William from Dallas, TX

We all know that math is frowned upon in Inbox. However, this tenet must be suspended on cutdown day as subtraction is the day's theme. With that knowledge, how many young men in any given year get to claim to be Green Bay Packers, if even for a day? Must be a big number. Thanks, guys.

I've never thought about it and don't care enough to count, but 130 would be my guess between the number of "street" free agents who come on and off the roster in the offseason and whoever's on the practice squad once Week 1 hits.

Jerry from Dallas, TX

Wanna talk about Micah?

Matt Donley, social media content coordinator and amateur comedian, pulled this joke on me in our department meeting on Monday and at first, I thought he was talking about Micah Robinson. That's how little I think about Micah Parsons on a day-to-day basis.

Mitch from Bettendorf, IA

I can only imagine the backlash of the Inbox if you entertained the notion we were even talking to Parsons just for us not to sign him. You are forever in a no-win situation so thank you for not hyping up the garbage. That being said, I heard Jordy, Megatron, Jerry Rice, and TO were coming out of retirement to help the receiver room with all the injuries. Any insight into the rumor I just made up?

I appreciate the laugh, Mitch. I'm frustrated for a multitude of reasons, beginning with fans who don't bother to put any effort into vetting these reports and then howl at us with anger when the Packers don't trade for the player they wanted (whom the team itself may not have had any interest in). We can have a conversation about whether trading for Parsons would make sense for Green Bay – I would suggest it doesn't make sense considering A) how much it would cost to acquire him from Dallas and B) Parsons still needs a new contract – but bringing inaccurate information to us won't be tolerated. Dustin was unfortunately on the receiving end of my rant, but he's not the only culprit. The amount of you who have asked bogus questions about fake Facebook reports is honestly concerning (including but not limited to celebrities trying to buy the team, team discipline, players' personal lives, team personnel donating to strange causes, etc.). I'm sorry, but it is not my job to pass the sniff test for you.

Carl from Sheboygan, WI

II – be it Parsons or Trey Hendrickson, when's the last time a Packer GM traded for a player that wanted a new contract or was having a dispute with coach or ownership? I can't remember the last time the Pack did that. They don't do it. So don't believe all the crap on either sports network. They are just trying to sell ratings!

I don't recall one, truly.

Bill from Fort Worth, TX

Have people already forgotten how the Bears' big score with Khalil Mack panned out in the long run?

Everyone reacts to the news. Few stick around for the result.

Robert from Saginaw, MI

Something I heard on SiriusXM NFL Radio today, teams don't cut players, they are either waived or released but never cut.

It's a bit semantic, but there is a slight difference between the two designations. Vested veterans are "released" and free to sign with any team they choose while players with fewer than three accrued seasons must pass waivers.

Bob from San Diego, CA

When teams decide their 53 by the cutdown time, do they all typically show their hand at the same time? Or do some show their cards earlier? Thinking it would be best to wait until the deadline. Curious about the process. Thanks.

In most cases, yes, but there also are reports every year of a player who's going to be "cut" and then winds up being traded somewhere for a late-round selection or pick swap once the league catches wind of it. It's common practice for teams on the back end of the waiver wire to make a move to acquire players who are likely to be claimed.

Justin from De Pere, WI

What was the most surprising cut you've seen in your time covering the Packers?

Josh Sitton. Nobody else is particularly close. It was a great move on Ted Thompson's part, though. Lane Taylor was ready and a worthy successor to Sitton at left guard.

JR from East Moline, IL

During Carson Wentz's second season, Vic, I believe, was asked which offensive and defensive players in "today's" NFL would he choose to start a team. His answer was Wentz and, I think, JPP. This isn't a knock on Vic, but a question of how does a QB go from a frontrunner for MVP in their second year and immediately fade into mediocrity (NFL-wise) and can you think of similar instances of a QB showing and delivering so much promise to never repeat that level of play again?

I'm not sure we've ever seen a story quite like Wentz, an MVP contender in his second NFL season to a journeyman QB now on his sixth team in nine years. Maybe Sam Bradford? But Bradford never soared as high as Wentz did and injuries were a constant issue for him and contributed to his exit from the league at 31.

Josh from Seattle, WA

Why is it only 48 actives but 53 on roster? I really think roster expansion makes sense now, but it has to be part of the season expansion! Packers Daily had a great talk about this the other day when predicting the roster construction. It benefits the players to be on the roster a lot more than the practice squad, so they have to get the roster expanded to get more guys higher pay and vested years. Would you favor more people being active on gameday now?

As I've written before, the 48-man limit on gamedays is there to account for injuries. It's no different than the NBA allowing its teams to dress no more than 13 players despite having 15-man rosters that can swell to 18 with two-way contracts. That gameday roster is intended to keep a level playing field for both teams.

Bob from Rome, NY

Gentlemen, with all the discussion about an 18-game schedule and starting the season Labor Day weekend, I think the NFL will keep the start weekend the same and move the Super Bowl to President's Day weekend. This will stop all the Super Bowl Saturday talk, and most people will have the next day off for a federal holiday. Your expertise thoughts await! Thank you.

It's a bad idea that will dilute the product and make a long season even longer…and it probably happens before my 40th birthday.

Eric from Kenosha, WI

Some of us come here often precisely because you don't feed the baloney factory. Appreciate you.

And that's the reason I keep showing up for work.

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