Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Two things learned from Sunday's pressers with Matt LaFleur, Rich Bisaccia and Jeff Hafley. One, they are not OK with apples and orangutans. They actually are expecting apples and apples. Two, whoever is operating the microphone must read Inbox or there was some nudging going on from our favorite writers because he/she was turning it up for questions and down for answers. Many thanks.

You gotta give the people what they want.

Justin from Waupun, WI

What is your overreaction to the first preseason game of the year?

I don't overreact. I wait.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

Yes, there were dropped passes, but even more disturbing was the inaccuracy by all the QBs. So many areas where the practice performances did not show up in the game. That is not good! Am I wrong?

You're not wrong and the Packers have a big work week ahead of them to ensure a better performance in Indianapolis (which will be inherently more challenging). You cannot have that many drops, penalties and missed assignments and expect any other result than the one we witnessed. However, it is the preseason. There are 17 regular-season games for hyperbole and overreactions. Pace yourselves, my friends.

Dave from Comer, GA

So. You get what you emphasize, huh? How many forced fumbles did we have?

Hafley said it himself on Sunday the defense's dogged approach to forcing fumbles in practice didn't translate to the game. Again, it's another reminder for the Packers that nobody is just gonna give you the football – you gotta take it.

David from Independence, MO

With the disaster of Saturday's blowout against the Jets, what do you think the Pack needs to work on the most?

Just urgency and playing with purpose. I'd chalk that performance up more to mental mistakes than anything physical. Gotta start faster and sustain.

Edward from Sioux Falls, SD

Question: Where was Josh Jacobs last Saturday night? He wasn't on the "13 players will not play" list and he might have gotten us some first downs in the first two drives, which could have changed the whole game!

He played the first snap and then came out. Jacobs said he was open to taking a few hits, but the Packers wanted to be smart with him. On Sunday, LaFleur had this to say: "He's going to have plenty of opportunities throughout the course of the season to get battered and bruised, so I just feel like sometimes you make decisions that are in the best interest of your football team." It's understandable. We're talking about one of the three most important players to the 2025 Packers, after all.

Al from Green Bay, WI

I know there are lots of takeaways from the Jets game, and the drops will be a fan concern until they go away. On the defensive side of the ball, I was reminded about the importance of having Xavier McKinney on the field when the games are for real. His presence and leadership are not easily replaced.

That crossed my mind a few times on Saturday. McKinney is at the peak of his powers athletically but also wants to be a locker-room leader for this team. Green Bay's defense is going through some adversity right now, with McKinney and Nate Hobbs out and Quay Walker easing his way back from the ankle injury. Who's gonna rise to the challenge?

Jim from Hudsonville, MI

Would the medical staff (or coaches) approach a joint practice any differently than regular practice or an actual game?

It's probably somewhere in between as far as anticipating what could happen. Certainly, players can sustain significant injuries in practice, but the worst-case scenario is typically the non-contact variety. You obviously have to be ready for anything in games, but dangers lurk in joint practices, too. I'll never forget Jace Sternberger getting leveled during the practice with Houston six years ago. Everyone's gotta be on their toes.

Rick from Trempealeau, WI

Given a choice between our "young team" playing an outstanding first preseason game against a weak opponent and players getting overly comfortable or having a plethora of miscues and mistakes on both sides of the ball against a better opponent, giving the coaches a lot of fire to motivate, learn and correct going forward, I'd take the latter every time. I get that confidence comes with success. But if you don't get a taste of humble pie now and then...well, you know. Better now than later.

And that's why the response is so important. The Packers had it handed to them last year in Denver but turned the tables when a very talented Baltimore team came to town a week later.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

At least twice we were second-and-30 or third-and-30. Let's NOT do that anymore this year!

Deal.

Brooke from Middleton, WI

Morning, Mike and Wes. I couldn't watch the Jets game, but watched the lowlights reel afterward. Wow, another disappointing start to a season. One little bright spot I noticed. Did you see Sean Clifford on Amar Johnson's TD run? He followed the play all the way and got just enough of the Jets DB at around the 15-yard line to ensure Johnson got in the end zone. Gotta LOVE hustle plays like that. Anyone else have a sudden flashback to Darrell Green?

I felt the threes played with purpose whether it was Clifford showing extra effort on Johnson's touchdown or Taylor Elgersma finding Will Sheppard for a couple first downs.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents, a follow-up on Mike's comments about Ty'Ron Hopper being a thumper. One of the things that jumped out at me in the game was his stopping ability. There was one open-field hit on I believe a short pass where the ball was caught only a couple yards short of the sticks, but Hopper showed up (cue Larry's voice) with a bad attitude and that player didn't get one inch of forward progress after contact. Not a textbook knock back but it still looked good to me.

I was happy Spoff threw the spotlight on Hopper Monday because he again showed up in a big way. The game reminded me of last year's letdown against the Broncos when Hopper was a silver lining to an otherwise forgettable game (11 tackles on 51 defensive snaps). He is an all-business linebacker with the right attitude.

Steve from Scranton, PA

Wes...all I can say is, poor Spoff! Dating back to the days of Vic, I can't remember a more negative II. Three things stood out to me that may actually impact the regular season. MLF challenged Matthew Golden by matching him with All-Pro Sauce Gardner, and "22" beat him twice, once for a first down and another on a PI. Jordan Morgan more than held his own at LT. Jayden Reed was in a walking boot. The rest will be used as motivation by the coaching staff to keep the team focused as camp drags on.

Golden is another guy who carried what he'd been doing on the practice field over to Lambeau. He's just so sudden but also isn't fazed by big moments. Golden looks every bit the first-round prospect he's supposed to be.

Jerry from Grantsburg, WI

After practicing on natural grass, the first foray into opponent turf has an increased risk for field-related injuries. I'm pretty sure practices will be on grass, but the game will be on the Lucas Oil surface, which the NFLPA claims has an increased risk for injury. With the entire season still ahead, how much do you think the coaching staff will factor in trying to keep key players off that playing surface?

I suppose it could factor in whether the Packers want their starters out there on Saturday. If I'm Rashan Gary, I probably wouldn't mind just fast-forwarding to the Seahawks game. But as long as the NFL allows turf fields, every team must play on one at some point in the season. The Packers' equipment staff will make sure the players have the right cleats, and we all hope for the best from there.

Mike from Aurora, IL

I had a two-part question regarding the volume of flags thrown on Saturday. One, did most of the flags including the holding call on third-and-1 seem warranted? Two, are the refs given any direction to call preseason games tighter to help teams "tighten up" before the season starts?

In general, it seems like refs call everything at first and then gradually back off. Listen, the Packers gotta clean it up. When flags are flying like that, you have to adjust to the game. Still, Adrian Hill's crew needed to chill. They were calling anything that even resembled a hold on both teams. Of course, Hill's crew missed a potential illegal formation during the Amar Johnson touchdown run. I suppose it's preseason for everyone.

Stephan from Green Bay, WI

I don't know the numbers, but it felt like there was laundry every two, three plays. On replay, some of those calls were really hard to identify exactly what was being called. The scoreboard aside, with the incessant commercial breaks, it was a poor viewing experience. In soccer, refs can be and are accused of making the game about them. I don't really care what the NFL wants to emphasize in preseason. I turned the game off at halftime.

The game pace was brutal.

Mark from Winona, MN

Would you agree that Saturday's game was about as big of a debacle as throwing turkeys out of a helicopter?

I've only covered two debacles in my 14 years on the beat – Desmond Bishop's torn hamstring vs. the Chargers in 2012 and Jordy Nelson's ACL tear in Pittsburgh. Everything else is relative.

Jeff from Foothill Ranch, CA

To Kyle's point about joint practices, owners will happily cut preseason game revenue when they can sell tickets for joint practices during training camp. Picture Family Night as a joint practice. Sprinkle a couple of those late in camp, for a nominal fee, and voila! Everyone is happy.

I believe the Packers held a joint practice against Buffalo at Family Night in like 2005, no?

Gary from Davenport, IA

Did you see the 70-yard field goal made by the Jacksonville kicker this weekend? I realize it doesn't count as a record, but that was impressive.

Am I the only one who thought that was silly? Cam Little isn't a street free agent trying to make a team. He's a PFWA all-rookie kicker. I don't think I'd feel comfortable having Brandon McManus overextend his leg like that, but it made for fun social media clips, I guess.

Josh from Playa Majagual, Nicaragua

Many of the mental lapses (drops, penalties, etc.) that have plagued the Packers recently can be attributed to youth and lack of experience. The average age of Super Bowl-winning teams over the last 25 years is over 2 years older than the Packers' projected roster, a lifetime in NFL terms. Is it time we stop wearing our status as a historically young team as a badge of honor, and start recognizing it as a liability?

Again, for the umpteenth time, I challenge you to find a team that's been as young and competitive as the Packers have been the past two seasons. In most cases, going young doesn't produce 19 wins and back-to-back playoff appearances. The Packers are another year older and need to take a step this season, but a preseason opener against the Jets doesn't serve as the final exam some of you want.

James from United Kingdom

Not a question, but a note that Qadry Ismail (mentioned yesterday as one of the 250-yard receivers) was also with the Packers for a short while.

I remember as a kid being pumped when the Packers landed Ismail…and then just as quickly he was gone.

Randy from McDonald, TN

Shout out to Kevin Harlan. As an out-of-market fan, I get the NFL Network version of the game for preseason, with the home team's announcers. For most road games, I can hardly tell the Packers are playing based on the announcers and hardly a Packer name is called. Mr. Harlan identified Jets players throughout the game on O and D and must have made the Jets fans watching the game pleased with the experience. Wish more could treat the game that way. At Indy may be tough for me next week.

Kevin is a true G.O.A.T. He's also one of the humblest people you'll ever meet relative to his talent. A true everyman. Boy, I wonder where he got that from.

Justin from De Pere, WI

What other non-journalism job(s) would you be doing if you weren't writing about the Packers?

I used to say history professor, but I'd probably just dive headfirst into Pokemon cards if this all ended tomorrow. The market is soaring on Pokemon TCG right now.

Tim Olathe, KS

Insiders, last season my ticket for a decent seat to the Packers game in Nashville was $332. A comparable seat for a non-rival game at Arrowhead is $900. When you throw in travel and other costs it's a pretty expensive weekend no matter what stadium you visit, including Lambeau. At what point has the NFL priced out its most ardent but less affluent fans?

I feel your pain, Tim. I went to Vegas in June for UFC 317. The same top-level ticket I paid $170 for in 2018 is now around $450 at T-Mobile Arena. Unfortunately, I fear that's the direction all sports are headed in. I can't speak for other NFL cities, but the Packers do their best to keep tickets affordable for this market.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

Guys, there must be a lot of other reporters reading the Inbox. Twice now in other national articles I've seen one of you being quoted, and it was from a response to an Inbox question. So, you have that going for you!

For real? Which site?

Larry from Carney, MI

Do you always answer/respond to a submission with your first thought upon reading it?

Only if the second one makes no sense.

Krystl from Annville, PA

What's the biggest lesson the team can take from this game to prepare for the regular season?

There are no mulligans. When that whistle blows, you gotta go or you're gonna get beat out the blocks.

HAVE A QUESTION?