Inbox: Tight end is a jack-of-all-trades position

Duane from Oak Creek, WI

Do you think we can withstand the moment until Micah Parsons comes back?

Absolutely, but the Packers need to do it all four quarters. I've said it time and time again, the Packers need at least two wins when Parsons steps back on the field.

Ray from West Des Moines, IA

Last year the Packers humiliated the Lions and Commanders in the first two weeks and then lost to the...Browns. Maybe this year things get better as the season progresses.

Just get the first one. That's it. The Packers picking up a W in New York (or New Jersey, I guess) ensures Green Bay gets off to a better start on the road than last season when it had the letdown against the Browns and the tie in Dallas.

Detlef from Germany

Javon Hargrave and Lukas Van Ness are both listed with a concussion on this week's injury report. Any reasons for concern? Did Matt LaFleur offer any details? I did not notice them being forced out during the Vikings game.

LaFleur explained that both entered the protocol in days after the game – Van Ness on Monday and Hargrave on Wednesday. LVN is questionable and Hargrave is doubtful for Sunday.

Jim from Saint Louis, MO

No question, two comments. Lee from Cleveland gets my vote for rational comment of the year. That leaves irrational exuberance for me to tackle. Based on game one, the Packers' lack of a 1,000-yard receiver is over. Extrapolating the results for each player over 17 games, Christian Watson will smash the NFL record with 2,499 yards receiving, and Tucker Kraft and Matthew Golden will both comfortably exceed 1,000 yards each.

While Jordan Love cruises comfortably to the first 6,500-yard passing season in team history. But yes, I feel like Green Bay will have a 1,000-yard receiver this year as long as the "Big 4" (including Kraft) stay healthy. Unless they all finish with 999 yards apiece, that group is too talented not to have at least one in four digits.

Dennis from Toledo, OH

Hello, as I almost have last week in the rearview, it dawned on me another handicap to the offense despite its overall performance is we were down the full services of Jonnu Smith, Mark Redman and Kaleb Johnson…that's three position players with "capped" services on the 53. Once they get to full speed that will add protection options arguably that were not available when the pressure intensified. Not offering excuses but an understated disadvantage. GPG.

Be that as it may, I'm excited for the offense once Smith and Redman get fully up to speed. Kraft, Smith and Redman are all tight ends by trade but play the position differently. If Green Bay can get Luke Musgrave back this season, that also adds another skill set and wrinkle. For all those reasons, I'm eager to see what the Packers can do with "12" or "13" personnel this season. Tight end is a jack-of-all-trades position. The NFL's handyman, if you will, and I feel like the possibilities are endless within that room.

Brian from Alta Vista, IA

Wes didn't realize Golden had 95 yards. Well, I didn't realize Jonnu Smith had 50 yards, not a bad start for a TE that's probably still learning the offense.

Smith is intruding, especially when used in tandem with Kraft. When fitted to the right offense, Smith can be a real playmaker in this scheme. What's more, he's been remarkably durable throughout his NFL career.

Vince from Green Bay, WI

Moving on to NYJ while looking back at Minnesota. I am only looking at one stat on Sunday. Percentage of red-zone possession that end in TD: GB 1-of-4 for 25%, Minnesota 4-of-4 for 100%. Finishing can come in many forms, including finishing red-zone drives in the end zone. If we lose this stat again this week, I think it is a bad sign for the final outcome.

Dom Capers used to talk about looking at passer rating and takeaways when reflecting on wins and losses. He's not wrong, but I fall firmly in the red zone serving as the biggest key to victory. It's not absolute (e.g. the 2025 NFC Wild Card game), but this is a points business, and the red zone is where touchdowns happen. It's great when big plays, takeaways and a few calls go your team's way, but all three bend the knee to the almighty scoreboard. Wanna eliminate the chances of a comeback, slam the door in the red zone. That door was left open Sunday, mistakes happened, and we're still having to talk about it six days later.

James from Pardeeville, WI

Do you think the Packers' emphasis on explosive plays is affecting their red-zone and fourth-quarter production?

Show me a team without explosive plays and I'll show you a January without football. I think the Packers' lack of execution in the red zone and in the fourth quarter is affecting their red-zone and fourth-quarter production.

Mark from Westminster, CO

Geez, after watching the Bills run the ball, the Packers' blocking and rushing attack seems years away. That said, the ability for the Bills to run effectively opened their dynamic TD-producing passing game. And they even missed an extra point to boot! Can the Packers get to the point the Bills are at now offensively?

You don't need to watch the Bills to see that. As a Packers fan could tell you, running the football and blocking have been the blueprint here since my grandfather was cheering on the team at City Stadium. The offensive front is a work in progress right now due to Josh Jacobs' situation and Green Bay's two best offensive linemen still battling injury. The Packers need synergy and fast. That's what fuels execution.

Dennis from Parrish, FL
Was our last regular-season defensive touchdown Dean Lowry's against Tampa, on a Jameis Winston fumble return? 2017?

Jaire Alexander's pick six vs. Tennessee on Sept. 22, 2024, which doubled as Alexander's last interception in the NFL. Crazy that Ja still isn't even 30 yet (…and don't ask me if he's coming back).

Pat from Cleveland, TN

In regard to Rob from La Crosse and your answer to the offsides. That is the most frustrating call to me. It used to be a defensive player could get back before the snap and it wasn't a penalty. Now it seems more times than not they throw the flag regardless. Either a neutral zone infraction, or especially if no one is touched but the O-lineman moves and points at the defensive player. It seems there is no opportunity to get back onside. I don't like how this officiated.

That's the game. You can't flag an offensive lineman for false-starting if the defensive player's encroachment triggered the motion. It's like blaming the guy you drove into the ditch for going off the road.

Aaron from Portland, OR

I'm a big Jordan Love supporter and feel he's an elite QB. I did some analysis, and during Aaron Rodgers' four-year stint under MLF, we were 18-1 in Dec/Jan games that mattered, and JL10 is 7-7. Now, I know that is a superficial stat, and other factors played a role, so wondering if you can help enlighten us on what has caused that late-season downturn in success. I'm certain the D squandered opportunities, and ST also shouldered a lot of blame in some losses. How much falls on JL10, though? Can it improve?

Again, fans wants to put losses on one specific player or one specific area, but that's not how it works. I'm sure Love had a role to play in some of those seven losses, but Sunday wasn't one of them. He did everything he could against the Vikings with what he had.

Rich from Holmen, WI

Hopefully someday you will post one of my questions: Here goes...why do you think Matt LaFleur has reduced the number of bootleg and rollout plays for Jordan Love over the past two years? Watching Josh Allen was a great example of how to get your QB out of harm's way by moving him away from the pass rush.

The Packers run designed play-action rollouts quite frequently. Love just prefers to get the ball out rather than running 14 times for 69 yards, including a 1-yard TD.

Larry from Woodridge, IL

Good morning II. Regarding your answer to Ryan from Carmel, IN, it's a good thing broadcast crews "understand" that they can't share information they received during production meetings. If a former player with a history of bending or breaking NFL rules from a team with a history of same were to become a broadcaster who happened to own a piece of an NFL team, that "understanding" would certainly stop them from sharing such information inappropriately. Or not.

It's supposedly not an issue…or so we've been told.

Tony from Brownsville, MN

Why don't the coaches calling plays have a mic on their headset big enough to prevent people from lipreading? A business card size would do it...

Isn't that what massive call sheets are for?

Jon from Soldiers Grove, WI

Hey guys, just for fun, who are you hoping wins the Bears vs. Vikings game? Personally, I'm hoping the Vikings. It would be fun to see Caleb Williams get flustered and throw some interceptions. And I believe we could have beaten the Vikings had it not been the first game, questionable officiating and in that environment. I know the team needs to be able to overcome all that, just trying to stay positive.

I'm pulling for Minnesota. But to be fair, Ben Johnson could be coaching for Bay Port High School, and I'd be rooting against my alma mater.

Laura from Arlington, VA

And how much money do these guys make?

Approximately $6.34 an hour during the regular season.

Paul from Eagan, MN

When the Vikings were lined up with seven men on the LOS, why wouldn't the Packers try to run directly into that defense with quick hitters up the middle? They were lining up that way on early downs and there was no second level to the defense. Seems like a quick hitter getting blocked from the inside out would have had a chance for big gains.

Because they aren't always sending seven, but sure.

Mike from Hastings, MN

With apologies to Peter from Orland Park, I hate to break it to the two of you, but if the Packers don't change their stripes (and/or their coaching staff and management) to get some big/talented linemen instead of constantly emphasizing offense, they will continue to choke in the fourth quarter. And I've been watching since Lombardi's 9-7 win over the Lions.

OK.

Jeremiah from Middleton, WI

I want to respectfully push back a little on the idea that the Packers were confident in this O-line going into the season so we should be confident things will settle in fine. The Vikings went into last year confident in J.J. McCarthy as their QB, and their GM lost his job over it. I hope they make this consternation look foolish, but if that performance in the first game is in any way indicative of how the rest of the season goes, repercussions will have to happen.

OK.

Dave from Hollywood, MD

Insiders, not only do the Packers have to get the correct sock color, but we also each have to do our part. Our gameday ensembles obviously haven't been up to par recently. This Sunday, take extra care in choosing your gameday apparel to ensure it exudes maximum energy to boost the team when the going gets tough.

OK.

Matt from Sioux Falls, SD

Is the game against the Jets leaning towards a must-win? History says if we drop to 0-2, we only have a 14% chance to make the playoffs. I know Hans Solo says "Never tell me the odds"...But I don't like them.

Then win and this is all a moot point. According to Spoff Stats & Info, it's been 20 years since the Packers started a season 0-2. Keep that streak intact Sunday.

Doug from Salem, OR

I think the Packers need to open a package of "Kraft cheese" and shove it down the Jets' throat.

As a part-time food critic…I approve. Enjoy the game, folks.

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