Inbox: Linebacker could be the choice

Mark from Westminster, CO

Since player injuries haven't let up, and the first few games of the season seem to be less competitive, I propose NFL goes back to two-a-day practices.

The players' union would never agree to bringing back such a structure. Two-a-days were removed via collective bargaining and they're gone forever.

Rod from Eau Claire, WI

With regard to Wes's reply to Matt from Ixonia, I'll save you the trouble of "googling." In the 2025 NFL season, as per the CBA, first-year players will receive a weekly stipend of $2,000 during the preseason, while veteran players will receive $3,500. This stipend is paid from the beginning of training camp until the end of the preseason.

'Preciate the knowledge.

Anthony from Sturgeon Bay, WI

II guys, if a head coach "hates" a specific drill, why does he do it? The only thing I can possibly compare it to is practicing the short game in golf? Drive for show….putt for dough? What benefits does 7-7 offer that supersedes a head coach's disdain?

It's the only way right now for Jordan Love to get any meaningful passing reps against defenders without putting his surgically repaired left thumb in harm's way.

Dave from Middletown, CT

I'm curious about the extra protection for Love during his thumb recovery. How is 7-on-7 beneficial vs. 11-on-11 when he's wearing a non-contact jersey in any event?

Because with no linemen on the field, there's nobody anywhere near the QB to risk contact with the injured hand.

Hudson from Union Grove, WI

Has Malik Willis shown that he is our clear No. 2 at quarterback?

Yes.

Brendon from San Antonio Tlayacapan, Mexico

Any idea as to what medical equipment is hidden inside the mysterious blue tent? Do they have some sort of portable imaging capability, or is it just a private place for the team doc to poke, prod and squeeze, to make a preliminary diagnosis?

The latter.

Scott from Duck Creek Village, UT

The Bears looked flawless, completing nearly every pass, great running game, pressure on the Bills including QB sacks and zero penalties and up 28-0 at halftime. I know it's preseason, but they look well-rehearsed and polished compared to the sloppy Packers play. Should we be worried?

Anytime I see a woefully lopsided preseason score, I figure one of two things (or both) happened. The units on the field were mismatched at certain points in the game (ones vs. twos, twos vs. threes) and/or one team game-planned for the opponent while the other didn't.

Doug from River Falls, WI

With regard to MarShawn Lloyd's injury situation, I'm curious why the Packers aren't sending him to U of Wisconsin for an evaluation like they did with Christian Watson and another player (to be named later by you because I forgot who that was).

That was Eric Stokes, who went with Watson in the winter/spring of '24. The Packers sent Lloyd to the same Madison facility this past offseason.

Ed from Urbandale, IA

What's your guess on how GM and MLF will handle the MarShawn Lloyd roster spot, with the cut down a week away. Active roster? IR? Other?

Depending on how long he'll be out, one option would be to put him on IR at final cuts with the designation to return. Teams can do that with up to two players who won't count against the initial 53, but those two would count against the total of eight players allowed to come back from IR during the course of the season.

Bob from Jensen Beach, FL

Insiders, if a player who will definitely be a part of the team is injured before cut-down day, what is the best way to keep him on inactive status to allow him to return when healed? How soon can he return?

Anyone placed on IR has to miss a minimum of four games before he can return to practice. If a team has more than two players it wants to put on IR at final cuts with eligibility to return, those players would have to be on the initial 53 and then put on IR the next day. That can lead to some roster gymnastics, which the Packers have done in the past with long snapper Matt Orzech, cutting him to open a spot on the 53 for a player going on IR, and then re-signing him once the other moves are official. Because vested veterans aren't exposed to waivers, there's no risk in losing such a player to another team if the club and player are in agreement on the maneuver.

Robert from Brookeville, MD

With kickers having so much excess capacity on kickoffs now I'm expecting some creativity to ensue. What about a hard squib kick that should reach the 20 if not touched? Could create some inadvertent contact and turnovers. Maybe used when a team is behind and has little to lose like an onside-lite. Any strategies you see emerging to fill this new(ish) scenario?

Remember, any kickoff that touches the ground prior to the 20-yard line – unless the kicking team has declared an onside kick – is treated like a kickoff out of bounds and the ball is brought out to the 40-yard line.

Larry from Woodridge, IL

On Tuesday, Wes stated that the Colts were doing "mortar kicks" on kickoffs for most of Saturday. Since the kicking team cannot start running until a member of the receiving team touches the ball, what's the point of kicking higher, shorter kicks? Shouldn't the goal be to kick as close to the end zone without going into the end zone? I understand the advantage of height on punts, but don't see it on kickoffs. Thanks for a great column.

The coverage players can begin running as soon as the ball touches a player, or as soon as it touches the ground in the landing zone. If you can kick it to an area in the landing zone where the ball will bounce before the receiving team grabs it, the coverage players get a head start.

Steve from Phoenix, AZ

Yeah, I'm disappointed in Lloyd's injuries and excited after seeing glimpses of him carry/catch the ball, but reliability in protection is at least half of what gets running backs on the field. It seems his missed time hurts him more in this area than in carrying the rock.

I think we saw that with the breakdown Emanuel Wilson had in pass protection in the Indy game. He'd been out injured awhile, too, and those reps are valuable. When Ben Sirmans was asked about it, he made a point of emphasizing that Wilson came a long way in pass pro from his rookie year to last year, when he didn't allow any sacks or pressures.

Doug from Neenah, WI

Good morning, Mike. Towards the end of his locker room interview, Emanuel Wilson talked about Chris Brooks and mentioned he can play the F or the H. Could you please explain this backfield terminology? Thanks.

The F is a traditional fullback spot as a lead blocker in the backfield. The H is that offset spot in the backfield – behind the quarterback but on his left or right side – often filled by a tight end.

George from North Mankato, MN

Is this the week the NFL refs come to town for the joint practices with the Seahawks? Could be a chance for Anthony Belton, Jacob Monk and others to gain some valuable insight as to what the zebras are looking for to air the laundry.

They'll be here Thursday. An NFL officiating crew was at the joint practice in Indy, too.

Matt from Kula, HI

Despite his missteps in the Colts game I'm excited about the prospects to be derived from Anthony Belton's size, power and aggressiveness. I see that he's been playing at RT. But given the stability at that position (and LT) into the foreseeable future, barring injury, would you agree that he will likely switch to guard eventually? Has he been repping at guard in practice?

He's been working exclusively at tackle in training camp, but he was drafted with the idea he could play guard as well. It's certainly not out of the question for the future.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents, judging by the feedback on the competition for the left tackle spot the winner has become obvious: The Green Bay Packers. Having one quality left tackle is hard to achieve, and the team appears to have two. Rasheed Walker is a proven commodity and Jordan Morgan has apparently stepped up during Walker's injury. Hopefully they both remain healthy and keep the competition going all season.

It will be interesting to see if the competition isn't decided by Week 1 and they rotate at left tackle in games until someone takes the job. That would require everyone else on the line to be healthy, so we'll see. Stay tuned I guess.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

The coaches say we play our best five on the O-line. Is there really a way both Walker and Morgan can both start if they are the best five? If so, who is the LT?

Morgan has played guard, Walker has not. If they're both in the starting lineup, and everyone's healthy, I believe Morgan would play RG and Sean Rhyan would be the sixth man.

Herb from Mosier, OR

Coach Stenavich said Elgton Jenkins takes charge of the calls. What, exactly, does that mean and what does the center say to the rest of the O-line just before he snaps the ball?

The center calls out who's considered the Mike (middle LB) on the defense based on the protection call, because everyone figures out their pass pro assignment by counting out from the Mike to either side.

Detlef from Breitenstein, Germany

I noticed Xavier McKinney and Nate Hobbs on the pictures from Monday's practice. What is their injury status? I thought they would be out for at least the remainder of camp/preseason.

They haven't returned to practice and aren't expected to this week, to my knowledge. They're both shooting to be available Week 1, which presumably means getting back on the practice field sometime between final cuts and the first game.

Michael from Tallahassee, FL

During joint practices is anyone from the personnel/scouting department monitoring the opposing team's players to update scouting reports and look at potential players who may be cut and considered for the practice squad?

Absolutely. The personnel department is also reviewing all the preseason game film across the league looking for players who may be available on the waiver wire, and whether they'd be upgrades over players already here.

Emily from Albuquerque, NM

With so many young players stepping into bigger roles this season, which position group do you think will show the most growth for the Packers, and why?

Linebacker could be the choice. Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper started exactly once together last season – the playoff game in Philly. Walker's in Year 2 in Hafley's system, Cooper's in Year 2 in the league, and Isaiah McDuffie is the trusted vet who's been with Hafley longer than anyone. Plus I'm not ruling out Ty'Ron Hopper finding a role in that group eventually, too.

Jackson from Wausau, WI

Spoff, do you have any favorite football slang terms or isms you've filed away throughout your time reporting and writing? For example, I grew up playing baseball and "can of corn," "party after two," "golden sombrero," "ducks on the pond," "country hard ball," come to mind among many others, and my favorite being "dying quail."

What I remember more as a player was all the fun chatter from the field or dugout. My favorite was one I heard from a college teammate, when the opposing pitcher's curveball didn't look all that good. He'd always holler, "Hey now, put a coat on that hanger!"

Mike from Stevens Point, WI

Just a comment. I know he hasn't locked up a spot on the 53 just yet but the more we see him play, it looks like "Bo knows" cornerback!

I looked it up because I was curious. That ad campaign debuted 36 years ago. Yikes. Happy Wednesday.

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