Inbox: It's like Micah Parsons was meant to play here

Bette from Orange City, IA

Is Tucker Kraft all healed up?

He's getting there. The Packers' tight end hurdled a big checkpoint in his recovery on Friday when he practiced for the first time since tearing his ACL last November. He tempered expectations after practice, adding it's going to be a bit yet before he does anything too extraordinary in practice, but it is another big step. It was good to see No. 85 back on the field Friday.

Robin from Ashburn, VA

Most improved second-year player?

Matthew Golden.

Andrew from Clearwater, FL

We are all aware of what people call modern math and how complicated it can be. What about NFL Math. I think Russ Ball has a PHD in NFL Math. We sign Devonte Wyatt to a big extension and the Packers' salary cap increases! We have even more room to sign Tucker Kraft! Looking ahead to 2027 Cap, there isn't much there to work with, yet we can be sure Russ already has a plan to give the Packers the cap they need.

He probably wouldn't want me to say this, but when it comes to managing an NFL salary cap, Russ Ball is the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be. Under his watch, the Packers have always been a step or two ahead in regards to market trends.

Derek from Howards Grove, WI

Is Keisean Nixon practicing and if so, does he look like a No. 1 corner?

Nixon flowed right back into team 11-on-11 after sitting out Wednesday with the hamstring. He still is very much CB1 and had a good day on Friday, too. He had two pass breakups in the first team period, causing the offense to stall at the plus-28-yard line.

Brent from Delano, MN

The charm, the history, and the story of the bike riding tradition have been told numerous times. Yet seeing the video of Micah Parsons with the three little sisters and their bikes reinforces yet again what a special place Green Bay is! And filled with very special people. What a class act Micah Parsons. II, can you watch that without feeling pride in the team you root for?

The first time I saw it, the only thought that kept running through my mind was Green Bay needed Micah Parsons, the player and the person. While I don't want to speak for Parsons, I think he needed Green Bay, too. The way the two have embraced once another are special. This isn't Dallas. This isn't New York. This isn't L.A. It's Green Bay, a small town with blue-collar fans who love this football team with all their heart. When superstars come in and show that same respect, it elevates that fandom to a whole 'nother level. Parsons wasn't drafted by the Packers, but it feels like he was meant to play here.

Jim from Naples, FL

Good morning boys, we came up from Florida for the first two days of camp. Is it just me, or is the intensity of the camps ramped up earlier? We saw more aggressive 11 vs. 11 than previous years? My son got some nice autographs, but my highlight was chatting with Luke Butkus. I'm a tennis coach who emphasizes the technicals, and I can watch Luke work with the O-line all day in admiration. I sure hope he stays with us his whole career.

I've liked the tempo through the first three practices and players seem to be enjoying it, too. Larry went into further detail during our “Three Things” video on Friday.

Paul from New Braunfels, TX

Responding to the comment by Arthur from Eau Claire, regarding Micah training to go just as hard in the fourth quarter as he does in the first, it brings to mind one of Lombardi's most famous quotes: "Fatigue makes cowards of us all." He didn't allow any cowards on his team!

It's a fight mentality. Boxers and mixed martial artists train to battle for 25-plus minutes because performance in those later rounds is often what dictates victory. Anybody can fight in Round 1. Will you be there in the final minute? Parsons does everything in his power to be there.

Steve from Land O Lakes, FL

A couple of days ago I said color me stumped about Lenny Krieg. It didn't take long to answer that question. Did you even get a chance to see him kick?

We did not. But you can only hold so many positions for specialists, and the Packers needed an extra snapper at the moment more than a kicker.

Dale from Cherry Valley, IL

Good morning II. No question, just an observation. Looking at the photos of the DreamDrive, it appears the players really enjoy the tradition. Smiles on their faces, high-fiving with the fans. A great tradition that I was able to experience growing up in Green Bay during the 1960s.

I think that starts with Matt LaFleur. He embraced that tradition from his first year and continues to carry it on with his players. What warms my heart the most is seeing established stars such as Parsons, Tucker Kraft and Jordan Love still participating.

Patrick from East Dubuque, IL

Supposing the injured offensive line are all healthy, at which game do you see us being able to evaluate them as a cohesive group?

Maybe Chicago?

Elliot from Oak Creek, WI

Wes, what years did you work at the Daily Herald? The reason for asking is, my sister and I went to school in the area and were heavily involved in athletics, and I want to see if there's an article authored by you that I need to track down and get signed. For posterity. Also, I cannot believe the amount of media types picking the Bears this year and also touting Caleb Williams as a superstar already. I saw a hefty dose of good fortune helping the Bears in 2025.

I didn't work Daily-Herald (but I did once blow a tire in Wausau while driving to cover the NCAA Division III Frozen Four in 2008). I only worked at the Press-Gazette. I haven't thought much about the Bears and their preseason expectations to be honest. I think most of that hype is simply a byproduct of Chicago having higher expectations. Even the years when the Bears won the NFC North in the past, they sort of came out of nowhere to do it. Chicago has only won back-to-back division titles once in my lifetime (2005-06). Let's see how Ben Johnson and Co. handle success.

Tim from Elmhurst, IL

So Spoff responded to Craig in Sussex that he thought Vikings are least likely to win the division with the rest being a toss-up. I'd say if Kyler can reproduce what Sam Darnold did two years ago the Vikings have a chance. However, maybe because of where I live being a Packers fan I'd be shocked to see the Bears repeat as division champs. They did nothing to upgrade a mediocre defense and likely not getting 30-plus turnovers and expecting Caleb to keep pulling out fourth-quarter miracles is unlikely GPG!

I think that's a massive "if" as it relates to Murray, but you never know.

Dale from Cherry Valley, IL

In Friday's II Mike stated that scouts can attend any practice where admission is charged. Are scouts that well known that they would be recognized if they tried to sneak into a public practice? If they did sneak in and were caught, what would be the penalty? How many scouts is allowed for each team?

It would probably lead to fines and a loss of draft picks. The juice, folks, isn't worth the squeeze.

Doug from Neenah, WI

Good morning, Wes. Every time you guys post another edition of "3 Guys" it reminds me of the old saying about being "stuck between a rock and a hard place." Poor Mike...does he realize he's stuck between The Rock and a Hod place?

Bad dad jokes for the first Saturday Inbox of the 2026 season? I'll allow it.

Jeff from Green Bay, WI

Hi Mike, thanks for sharing your volleyball deadline story. I love the website and know that everything evolves but man I miss newspapers.

Me too. Writing on deadline after Friday night football produced some of my all-time favorite memories.

Keith from Lincoln, IL

Appreciate the insight into Spoff's writing life in his response to David from Bay Minette. We know writing is your craft, but are there certain times of the NFL year when your writing chores feel more joy than job? (Excluding responding to Insider Inbox questions, of course)

Playoffs. Everything hits a little different in playoffs, especially the further your team goes. I appreciate how many readers engage with our content on a daily basis, but the interest hits a new peak in the postseason.

Bil from Stateline, NV

I find myself approaching this season with a sense of foreboding. Your contributions always include, when Tucker Kraft is back 100%, if we can make it through the first four until Micah is back, when Zach Tom, Savion Williams, MarShawn Lloyd, et al are healthy, when Josh Jacobs is cleared and so on. Seems like a lot of speculation (there's always some, but this seems excessive). So, how do you reassure those of us that see a boatload of question marks, that we should "remain calm, all is well"?

If I've written it once, I've written it a thousand times. It's not my job to reassure you. My job is to inform you about what's happening with the team. Who is out, who is returning and what it all means for the 2026 season.

Clipton from Pasadena, CA

OK, I have to ask. At first, I thought it was an anomaly, but this is the second Three Things video where Larry is wearing an ID lanyard and you gentlemen aren't. Can you tell us why (without having to kill us)?

Spoff and I don't wear lanyards. We wear belt clips with our credentials…and that was the rest of the story.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

REAL smackin' and crackin' starts Monday?

That's what the head coach said. Have a good weekend, everybody.

HAVE A QUESTION?