Tim from Woodbury, MN

Just drove across the border to buy a Packer Yearbook to read before the season begins. With tax, the total was $12.65! I see what you did there. Very clever!

Wish I could take credit. For the final price, that is. Thanks for checking it out.

Drew from Dubuque, IA

No question, Mike, just a comment. I get a little chill every time you write the words, "so it goes." It always makes me think of one my other favorite writers and one of my favorite novels of all time. I have no doubt you know the author and book. Thanks for all you do. GPG.

It's not an intentional reference, but appreciate the thought.

Mary from Green Bay, WI

How do players stay focused during this down time before the first game?

They have three days of practice this week, with part of these practices, according to LaFleur, focused on implementing the game plan for the Vikings. So there's plenty to keep their attention before they get the weekend off.

Paul from Staunton, VA

What is the point of writing dismissive, slightly insulting responses to questions that you seem to consider unworthy of a thoughtful answer? If you think the question is stupid, don't print it. But Mike's response to Bob from Orland Park, IL's question is just embarrassing. The question may not have been the best, but it was asked with the expectation of being taken seriously. If you didn't like it, then skip it. Making a smart aleck remark makes you look bad, not him. Just saying. Do better.

OK.

Sean from Chicago, IL

Good morning Insiders! Last year the excitement of Week 1 was amplified by Micah Parsons' arrival. This year I'm anticipating a second "Week 1" amount of excitement whenever he comes back. Does that make sense? Or am I reaching late-stage offseason delirium?

Oh, it's coming. We just have to be patient.

Tim from Olathe, KS

Insiders, Micah can begin practicing after Week 2 per NFL rules. Suppose the Packers are 2-0. Do you wait an extra week? Or if they are 0-2 do you feel a sense of urgency to get him on the practice field?

I don't think the Packers' record will have anything to do with it. It'll be about where Micah is and what the doctors think. Moreover, Week 3 is a Thursday night game, so there won't even be a full-speed practice that week. The following week would be his first opportunity for that anyway.

Jim from Pewaukee, WI

I read a lengthy article at another site regarding Jordan Love's development since his rookie season in reading defenses and assigning pass protection. He said he came from "None. Zero" out of college, which is exactly where I was before reading the piece. I never really thought about this as being a thing. I consider this aptitude was a major factor in choosing Tyrod Taylor over McCord as Love's backup.

This is what's at the heart of my repeated, and I'm sure annoying, comments about the pro game being played on a different level than the college one. And preseason NFL football is just a stepping stone to the real thing, especially for quarterbacks. I don't want to denigrate what McCord accomplished these past few months. He played his way into another team's QB2 job. That's remarkable, and kudos to him. But from the Packers' perspective, consider this (and shout-out to Wisco Fanatics for the research): Over McCord's 59 snaps against the Cardinals, 18 defensive players for Arizona played 20-plus snaps, and 17 of them were cut. From a team that won three games last year. So those who are still struggling with this, please try to understand.

James from Appleton, WI

The Packers were pretty clear from the start that they see a large part of Tyrod Taylor's value being a veteran in the QB room. Not a mentor-mentee relationship like Jordan Love had with Aaron Rodgers but an equal and a longtime member of the QB fraternity who can whisper double-secret tidbits in Love's ear.

That, too.

Jim from Hudsonville, MI

Do you think Kedon Slovis would have been signed had we not seen him up close and personal? In other words, how much did the extra contact during shared practice and PS game 3 help make our decision?

I'm sure it factored, as did (I would imagine) LaFleur chatting with his brother about him.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

With Will Levis sitting out there and no one claimed him, seems strange. Is it a financial thing or does he have too many black marks to offset his talent?

I'm guessing nobody wanted to assume Year 4 of his rookie contract as a second-round pick.

Nate from Blue Springs, MO

We heard a bit about Jaylin Simpson through training camp. Cutdown day comes and goes, PS players get signed, and nothing about Simpson. I was intrigued by the kid and thought he and Mark Perry might actually make the team, yet here we are. Not sure if there's any insight there it just seemed they were having a good camp.

As of when I'm writing this, I hadn't heard where Perry landed. Simpson and Will Sheppard (to answer several questions) both signed with Miami's practice squad. Guys are going to go where they feel they have the best opportunity to eventually make an active roster. A cut player returning to his original team's PS is never automatic.

Neil from Altamonte Springs, FL

Now that the initial 53 is set and Jonnu Smith is in the fold, how do you see the tight end rotation shaking out in Week 1, and does his arrival change how much "12" personnel we should expect this season?

I expect the Packers to run plenty of two-TE stuff in the long run, but how things look Week 1 with two guys who just got here is hard to say.

Dennis from Kenosha, WI

The NFL has suspended Josh Jacobs for offenses that may have occurred. I agree the optics are not good but everyone in this country is innocent until proven guilty. What happens if Jacobs is exonerated? How will the NFL repay him, and the Packers, for time lost and games missed?

NFL discipline does not hinge on innocence or guilt. The league can suspend players under the personal conduct policy in instances where charges aren't even filed.

Ben from Cripple Creek, CO

I see that Pierre Strong Jr. made it back to the PS. Might he be a call up the first couple games to give Kaleb Johnson acclimation time in the offense/team? Or would that not happen?

Entirely possible.

Samuel from Skokie, IL

There was a lot of talk that the Pack should have kept Adomitis because the FG unit was so successful. My understanding is the holder being in sync with the kicker is the key. The snap isn't really a factor for the angle of the ball on the hold. The snapper has to get the ball where the holder can handle it, but that doesn't affect the operation like having the hold the way the kicker likes it. Am I correct?

I'm no expert, but if you watch Trey Smack on his kicks, he starts his approach when the holder catches the snap, so that speaks to your point. Also, Smack did work with Matt Orzech as his snapper all through OTAs in the spring.

Mike from New Orleans, LA

While I am not advocating for doing it a bunch, I was wondering about the last successful fake punt or FG the Packers had. The last one in my mind was the Crabtree TD, but have there been any others since?

Not that I can recall.

Tony from Chanhassen, MN

Some of the undrafted players this year received significant guarantees on their contracts. Do we know if those are straight signing bonuses or do their practice squad salaries count for those guarantees?

UDFA guarantees are not signing bonuses but essentially act as pre-payment for a spot on the practice squad if the player doesn't make the 53. Their contracts have offset language so if the player is waived, goes unclaimed, and chooses a practice squad offer from another club, any money received from elsewhere offsets the guarantee.

Harry from Rochester, NY

Now that Donald has come out of retirement to join the forces with Garrett, other than them two, who's your top three duos? I'll give you mine. 1) Page and Eller – Vikings. 2) Jones and Olsen – Rams. 3) Dent and Hampton – Bears.

Hard to argue, though I'd submit the D-line duo of "Mean" Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood from the Steel Curtain for consideration as well.

Kyle from Pittsburgh, PA

I was excited to see Brenton Cox Jr. make the team again this summer. I'm so intrigued by his story. He was basically given up on in college as a bad seed. The Packers brought him in, I'm sure after a LOT of research and some pretty deep conversations. Not a peep out of him in a negative light, just continuing to work to improve. Can you give a little insight to his personality? Or at least to how he's viewed in the building? I suspect there is a lot of support for a kid like that.

I'll admit I don't know Cox very well, and it was clear when the Packers brought him in as an undrafted prospect he'd be on a short leash. The fact that hasn't even been part of the conversation since is a credit to him. Now another major opportunity awaits.

Larry from Green Valley, AZ

Miami made seven waiver claims Monday. Are they in full-blown overhaul mode? I do not ever recall a team making that many waiver claims after the cutdown process. It will be interesting to see them in Dec. at Lambeau.

The Bears claimed six players a few years back. When your roster is in need of a total rebuild, it's a given other teams will be moving on from players better than yours.

Ben from Charlottesville, VA

Am I the only one shocked that we kept seven defensive tackles? Am I missing something? How many will be on the field at once? Thanks for clearing this up for me.

Gutey explained that position group will be taking on a larger workload under Gannon, and with a deep pool he acted accordingly.

Nik from Moore, SC

Now that the roster is 95 percent set (three more PS players to go), what position do you think is the "weakest"? Strongest? Where do you see the most movement in the next few weeks?

This team has a rising star at QB, plenty of offensive weapons, and terrific groups at safety and defensive tackle. The prove-it areas are on the offensive line with new starters and health concerns, and at edge rush without Parsons, the latter of which will impact effectiveness at cornerback. That's my roughly 50-word assessment heading into Week 1.

Alikeisha from Vine Grove, KY

With the Packers entering the season with high expectations, what do you believe will be the single biggest factor that determines whether Green Bay makes a deep playoff run this year and why?

Health. Why? Just look at last year.

Dan from Greenwood, IN

Aside from staying healthy, if you were to pick one key element for success of the 2026 Packers, what would it be?

Staying explosive on offense. The Packers have a lot going for them overall, and will have even more when Parsons returns. But using the quartet of Christian Watson-Jayden Reed-Matthew Golden-Tucker Kraft to strike some level of trepidation in defenses will go a long way. Getting opponents to fear the explosive play can affect just about everything else.

Rich from Grand Rapids, MI

Roster turnover never ceases to amaze me – 13 new faces on a team that only had six draft picks, and one of the picks did not make the initial 53. Next year GB has a projected 11 picks, which suggests that there will be another 13-17 new faces on next year's roster. It just highlights the mentality of "what have you done for me lately?" As well as "what are you being paid for what you do?" I really respect what our front office has done and continues to do each year.

As an old friend used to say, it's a game of replacement.

Clipton from Pasadena, CA

I hope you gentlemen will entertain one more "behind-the-scenes" question before the season starts. Do you prefer doing the video segments (e.g. Unscripted, Packers Daily, Three Things) to the actual writing part of your jobs or vice versa? Exclude Inbox duty from the question because we all know that's your favorite...

I'm a writer by trade, and as such I take a lot more pride in a well-written story than a great video shoot. That said, the variety this job provides is a blessing.

Bob from Emmaus, PA

The Packers have the men they want. When do they become the team?

We'll find out eventually. Happy Wednesday.

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