Inbox: Four positions are not in question

Jeffery from Brooklyn, WI

Where did our summer go?

It disappeared while people were pining for football to start.

Al from Hartford, WI

Just an observation based on some recent published questions…if I am a player trying to make an NFL team, I'd make darn sure my passport was in order. How would you tell your coach, "Uh, sorry, but I can't go to Brazil." Talk about a quick way to be shown the door.

Indeed.

Lori from Cherry Valley, IL

Are both teams staying at different hotels/motels?

To my knowledge. In all my years of traveling with the team, we've never stayed at the same hotel as the opponent.

Patrick from Oronoco, MN

Speaking of the airplane, do the beat writers who cover the Packers get to tag along on the plane in back with you? Or do their organizations have to pay for their airline tickets to Brazil?

Other media outlets take care of their own transportation.

Scott from Manson, IA

Saw a post on Facebook recently about a trade involving Ja going to the Chargers. Upon opening the story, I see the phrase "proposed trade." These kinds of things make me want to punch somebody.

That is the latest obsessive trend in the clickbait universe – "trade proposal" trash, with the proposals being made up out of thin air by the basement bloggers desperate for clicks. They're everywhere, and they're mindless drivel.

Alex from Dallas, TX

What indication do you have the Packers will start the first game strong? I feel like two of the last three years, the first game has been a tough feat for the team.

LaFleur is 3-2 in openers, for whatever that's worth. The truth is you never really know. Week 1 is the most unpredictable week in the most unpredictable league. Show up and play.

Robert from Brookeville, MD

Mike's article on the featured backs for Friday’s game got me wondering if Josh Jacobs has commented on how the passing game will open up the run for him? After flourishing despite teams able to key in on him, I'd think he's drooling over a balanced attack (and a bit less wear and tear).

He most certainly is. I didn't include the quote in the story, but he has mentioned hopefully facing fewer loaded boxes than he saw with the Raiders, who never had a QB of Jordan Love's caliber in his time there.

Steve from Flagstaff, AZ

And we're another day closer day closer to kickoff. I've been reading the past few days that ML has been saying he likes competition with the return of Jordan Morgan at practice. With that said, has there been any mention who will be the starting five on our O-line Friday night?

Four positions are not in question. It'll be Rasheed Walker at left tackle, Elgton Jenkins at left guard, Josh Myers at center and Zach Tom at right tackle. Right guard is the only question, and the Packers aren't saying whether it'll be Morgan or Sean Rhyan, or if the two might rotate the way Rhyan and Jon Runyan did late last season.

Mark from West Des Moines, IA

What are the key matchups to watch in the Packers vs. Eagles game?

Two I'll be trying to watch for are what Philly does personnel-wise when Green Bay deploys both tight ends, and how the defense reacts when Jacobs motions out of the backfield.

George from Edinburg, VA

Good morning, guys. With the loss of Dillon, I assume the two-back sets will be off the table, at least for a while. Am I correct, and where else would you think the Packers will be limited?

You may be right (you may not), but I don't see any other potential limitation.

Mike from Ames, IA

Excited for the chance to stare up at the sky tomorrow and say "Are you there, Hod? It's me, Mike." But back on topic, I have a lingering concern about losing AJ Dillon (and Aaron Jones)'s pass protection experience. I assume Jacobs has played those downs much of his career. What have you seen regarding MarShawn Lloyd and Emanuel Wilson in that area? Could that be a factor keeping them off the field if Coach doesn't feel comfortable with them picking up rushers?

We're going to find out. Lloyd didn't practice Tuesday so his availability for Friday isn't certain. Last year when Dillon missed the end of the regular season and playoffs, Patrick Taylor was ahead of Wilson in terms of pass pro, and he's gone now as well. This could serve as another proving ground for Wilson.

Bruce from Jackson, WI

Morning Mike, hopefully this finds you jetting off to Brazil with good weather and a smooth flight. My question involves the Guardian helmet caps. A number of players around the NFL have announced they will be wearing the extra protection during the regular season. My apologies if I missed it, but do we know yet if any Packers will be wearing them? If there's any chance it will reduce concussions to any degree I hope the players wear them. Let's ground the Eagles!

I haven't heard any players indicate they're planning to wear them, but that doesn't mean there aren't any.

Kerry from Lakewood Ranch, FL

Will this be the best receiving corps the Packers face this year?

Probably not, but that's no disrespect to the Eagles or A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Jahan Dotson. The Rams will have Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua; the Texans will have Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell; the Lions will have Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams; the Bears will have DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze; the 49ers will have Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle; the Dolphins will have Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and (maybe) OBJ … you get the point. It's the NFL. The next challenge is always right around the corner.

Mike from Baraboo, WI

The Eagles have a lot of weapons on offense. Which players will the Packers need to contain to come back home with a win? Also, are the Packers done trying to find their QB2?

I discussed defending the Eagles on our latest "Unscripted" – whether you're talking about Barkley or Hurts, or Brown or Smith, it comes down to tackling. They're going to get theirs, but plays rupture due to missed tackles, and Week 1 is always a wild card when it comes to a team's tackling sharpness. As for QB2, it's Malik Willis and barring injury I don't expect that to change. It remains to be seen whether he'll be QB2 for this opener, having arrived here so recently, but he's the guy.

Chas from Modena, WI

Is Malik Willis's contract just for one year or is it longer?

He's on the rookie deal he signed as a third-round pick in 2022, so he's under contract through the 2025 season.

Mike from Aurora, IL

Good morning. Be ready for an energized Eagles team after last season's freefall. Curious who you think has the advantage (or tougher time) – the Eagles' offense going against a defensive scheme they haven't seen yet on the field or the defensive unit trying out the scheme for the first time live when it counts?

I don't think there is an advantage per se. I'd reason the Packers face a little larger challenge because the Eagles have such a multi-threat QB. Hurts can be effective, as well as dangerous, in various ways.

Ross from Hudson, WI

Now that the off and preseasons are complete and kickoff is looming, which second-year player looks like they have taken the largest step forward, and which third-year player seems to have really "gotten it" and is most poised for the junior year leap?

Both are hard to peg. For second-year leap, my gut says the top candidates are Lukas Van Ness, Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. Third-year? Quay Walker Rasheed Walker and Christian Watson are my best guesses.

George from Beaverton, OR

After watching a bunch of college games this past weekend it sure was nice to see traditional kickoffs. It just seems weird in the NFL that the ball is kicked and nobody moves. Maybe I'll eventually get used to it, but right now I hope the NFL reverts to the old way.

I don't expect the old kickoff to return to the NFL. I'm not saying this new setup will stick in its current form, but based on the injury-rate data I believe some sort of modified kickoff is here to stay. They'll just keep experimenting and adjusting, most likely.

Mike from Montevideo, MN

Hi II, when will the Packers pick the captains for this year's team?

As of now, the team is not electing permanent captains, according to LaFleur. There will be weekly selections.

Trevor from Cheyenne, WY

Lots of different options of pressure on Hafley, several different players, but I ask you, is possibly the biggest amount of pressure to perform on the new highest-paid QB in the NFL?

Jordan Love has said it multiple times himself. Pressure is what he signed up for.

Al from Green Bay, WI

Last year at this time, you encouraged your readers to simply watch and enjoy without expectations. This year, that seems impossible for most fans. This is your opportunity – should you choose to accept it – to remind us that we should enjoy the journey untethered by the weight of expectations.

I agree expectations are inevitable given the current state of the team and how last season finished. It's OK to have them, and LaFleur has said the team won't run from them. I would just caution that those expectations shouldn't be met (or not), or exceeded (or not), by what happens in any one given game. The Packers have 17 of these to play, and hopefully more, in the most competitively balanced league in professional sports, and no one game between now and Week 18 is going to define the season, good or bad.

Joseph from Sioux Falls, SD

Will you be able to watch the NFL season opener on Thursday night?

I sure hope so. I want to be able to say I watched two NFL games in Brazil.

John from Yakima, WA

Wes/Mike, on flight to Brazil, please look at safety card to identify type of plane and report on Thursday. Am quite curious on type given non-stop distance and length of Green Bay runway.

I got you now. We are flying on a Boeing 777-300ER.

Flavio from Sao Paulo, Brazil

Will you post Wednesday's II from the plane? Asking for a friend...

Isn't technology fun?

Darren from Wakefield, MI

So, from a 30,000-foot level, how do you see this matchup?

As I look out the window, not very well. Yet. Happy Wednesday.