Inbox: Yet it wouldn't be a shock

TK from Grafton, WI

We just need someone to let "Shutdown Spofford" know that after blanketing those out patterns to be leery of the old "out and up."

That was my favorite route in my college intramural flag football days.

Dave from Edina, MN

Mike, Wes flagrantly violated II's first rule in his response to Ted from Findlay, OH. I assume there will be a suspension, but for how long?

Well, I had a minor breach on Monday, which he probably figured bought him some grace.

Benjamin from Bear, DE

OTAs are right around the corner. I've seen recent updates on Micah Parsons, Tucker Kraft, and Devonte Wyatt that are extremely encouraging. With that said, are these players expected to show up at OTAs and if so, what would you anticipate the participation would be?

I don't know if they'll be here or not, outside of mandatory minicamp in June. But I do not expect to see any of them actually practicing if that's what you're asking.

Mark from Apollo Beach, FL

Hey Mike, are you planning to have the Saturday prior to away game shindigs again this year? Hope to meet you in Tampa this year (before the big beatdown).

The when and where of this year's pep rallies will be announced later this spring.

Kerry from Lakewood Ranch, FL

The Packers have nine home games this season, don't have to play the AFC or NFC West except for the Rams and have impactful players coming back after missing much of last season. Isn't this the year?

Seven of the 17 games are against teams that made the playoffs last season, and six more are against teams that missed the playoffs by one win. Maybe this is the year, but it won't be because of the schedule.

Bruce from Jackson, WI

Mike, can I have a follow-up question? I hear your point, but I just don't see the question of great coaches, or great players being that cut and dry. First, you can only afford a couple great players, but your coaches can coach the rest the players to play above their pay grade. He can make his game plan work for the players he has. How many Super Bowls did we win w/Favre and Rodgers? Two of the best QBs in their times. I guess this year will show us and I hope you're right.

It's absolutely true that a couple great players is all any team can afford. But if you have none, you have no chance. I don't care if the entire coaching staff is in Canton, without any great players they wouldn't win consistently in this league.

Luke from Dubuque, IA

Lots of questions regarding Gannon's base approach whether it be a 3-4 or 4-3. Wouldn't it be advantageous not to disclose an overall scheme to help keep each week's opponent guessing? Understanding that in-game adjustments are required, one would think keeping our cards close to the chest would be to our benefit. We certainly have the talent to run either scheme and I look forward to seeing how this unit attacks. I see us taking another leap forward in '26.

The base formations and concepts will be put on film during the preseason games, whether it's starters or reserves running them. But this isn't Gannon's first rodeo. He's not going to reveal more than necessary to get the work in, and then a whole 'nother set of looks gets added when Parsons returns. As I've said all offseason, the evolution of the 2026 defense will remain ongoing.

Matt from Fitchburg, WI

If you could pick five Packers to be relatively untouched by injury this season, which five would you go with?

Jordan Love, Parsons, Kraft, Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs. I'd love to add Zach Tom, Christian Watson and Edgerrin Cooper, but you said five.

John from Stevens Point, WI

Nearly every year, the Packers' roster is the youngest or nearly the youngest in the league. It makes sense from a cap management and health situation, though injuries can happen to anyone. It would appear, given the small group of draft picks this year, that the Packers would be slightly older/more experienced this season. Given key roster pieces are off their rookie deals after this season, is this season THE season the Packers need to challenge for a championship or the window closes?

Not at all. I mean, there's no more waitin' around. This team is built to win now. But the window doesn't close after 2026, not with the eight guys mentioned above all 28 or younger.

Tom from West Salem, WI

I am really looking forward to the air attack this year in Green Bay, and right now you can make an argument about who will have the most yards receiving between Matthew Golden, Watson, and Kraft. I am looking for big seasons out of all three.

Yet it wouldn't be a shock if Reed's yardage tops them all.

Dan from Eddyville, KY

I've always been curious about the "passes defended" category for defensive backs. Most games have 30 or 40 passes, that means there are 30 or 40 opportunities to defend it. The leaders in the NFL often have less than one pass defended per game...doesn't that seem like a small number? What is the definition of a pass defended?

It's up to the on-site statisticians, and it can be subjective, but generally speaking a PD is awarded when the defender's coverage prevents the completion of an on-target pass.

Mike from Sioux Falls, SD

Regarding players accruing NFL seasons, what benefits do players receive for accrued seasons and when are they "fully" vested?

Four accrued seasons earns free agency status with an expiring contract and gets a player fully vested in the union pension.

Austin from Manassas, VA

Morning! Monday's Inbox had me thinking about the impact of Parsons missing time. It might help the other players at his position by giving them extra reps in practice and games against top OL talent … but wouldn't it also hurt the OL giving them less reps against Parsons?

The Packers' O-linemen will miss out on that work, absolutely. Come to think of it, Parsons will be going into Year 3 in Green Bay before we ever see him practice in training camp.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

So many players I am excited to watch but none more than Jordan Morgan. This guy was a dominant LT at Arizona but has been tried at everywhere but LT with the Packers. (Don't get me started on moving O-line players to new positions.) What player or players are you most anxious to watch?

My top five here would be Golden, Morgan, Barryn Sorrell, MarShawn Lloyd and Trey Smack.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

While sitting in the snow on another northern Minnesota walleye opener I was thinking. Gutey made a bold move. Perhaps Gutsey. Does it appear that the Packers are finally making special teams a priority?

Again, to echo what Wes said yesterday, it has been a priority. Things just haven't turned out as hoped. The Packers brought in Mecole Hardman last year to help the return game, but he didn't prove himself worthy of a roster spot. They signed Nick Niemann at the end of training camp for a veteran presence, and he landed on IR at midseason. The best hands on the team were in the right spot to recover the onside kick and botched it. McManus was a great addition in '24 until he got hurt in '25, then had the worst game of his career at the most inopportune time, and the Packers have moved on. Don't confuse results with intent.

Matt from Madison, WI

Lots of talk about improving the "offensive" special teams, but I would also like to see more kickoffs landing inside the 5-yard line and less touchbacks in 2026.

Joe from Harrisburg, SD, brought this up as well, asking about assessing Smack's ability in this area. That's a "see how it goes" proposition with a rookie kicker playing by new rules, but it was a costly inconsistency in Green Bay's kicking game last year.

Ron from Chicago, IL

My dumb question, as a Packers fan in the U.S., why am I supposed to be excited about games in the UK? It's a 5- or 6-hour time difference, so only games played in the afternoon in Europe will even be watchable (and no, I won't indulge the NFL by staying up all night to watch). I used to think that the NFL cared only about TV viewers and not the fans in physical attendance, but now they seem to have written off (or decided they can take for granted) the domestic TV audience. What gives?

News flash: The games across the pond are not for you.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

Analyzing the schedule is a common activity for fans in the offseason. But as Mike McCarthy used to often say about many things, it's a poisonous mindset. If the Packers have a very good team in 2026 the schedule won't matter, and vice versa.

I believe McCarthy's phrase was "polluted mindset," but point taken regardless. Then "when you play 'em" adage always applies anyway, and there's no full understanding of the "when" until that game actually arrives.

Jim from Mundelein, IL

Thinking about the NFC North QBs…seems we have three good ones and one unknown with the Vikings. Seems as if Williams, Goff or Love are good enough to win an SB. Caleb might be "generational." Goff might be an efficient game manager. How would you compare/contrast Williams, Goff and Love today?

They're all very different in my eyes. Williams has done some amazing things at crunch time, but that's a tough way to live, and he needs to complete more than 58% of his passes because not all fourth quarters will go his way. Goff can be incredibly efficient, but without a strong, threatening running game behind him, that efficiency suffers. Love lives and dies by the big play, and as such can run hot and cold. But when he's in rhythm, he's dynamite, and when he's not, he remains a threat to strike quickly at any time. As for the Vikings, Kevin O'Connell has won games with a number of different quarterbacks, and Kyler Murray is more athletic than any of his previous QBs.

Dustin from Kansas City, MO

Every offseason seems to produce at least one player who quietly builds momentum before camp even starts. Without asking you to predict anything for this year, have there been years where you could sense early on that a player was gaining real traction behind the scenes before fans fully caught on?

It happens all the time, but it's always taken with a grain of salt because it's not guaranteed to continue when the pads go on in training camp. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.

Keith from Dodgeville, WI

Mike, have you seen a Brewer game on TV when they have shown shots from the ump cam? It is truly amazing how fast those pitches are with the breaks that different pitches have.

I did see some of those shots this past weekend. In my non-illustrious D-III college baseball career, the toughest pitcher I ever faced was a lefty who threw an upper 80s heater with a nasty slider. When I think about those ump cam shots in MLB with pitches coming in 10-plus mph faster (from the same distance away) than the fastest I ever saw from the batter's box, my mind gets a little blown.

Scotty from Lombard, IL

Hi Insiders, how come you two are not shown on the Packer Pro Shop modeling shirts and jerseys?

Because I left the negotiations to Wes. Happy Wednesday.

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