Scott from Tukwila, WA

Greetings Inbox. After a complete, complementary, impressive win against the Cardinals now is not the time to cocky or let anyone's head swell. A very good football team is next on the schedule, and the only thing to do is prepare for them. I know LaFleur will have them ready, and I can't wait to see this match up against the Texans.

Two very good football teams are set to lock horns Sunday. Like Tucker Kraft said, Sunday is gonna have a playoff-type feel – especially with the Winter Warning uniforms.

Nick from Ransomville, NY

I haven't been able to watch any of their games on TV yet unfortunately, but do you think the defense is playing better due to the players, the new DC or both?

It's a mixture of both. There's good synergy between the calls from upstairs and the players on the field. Jeff Hafley is putting players in position to make plays and they're jumping at them. What's encouraging is there's still room for the defense to get better, too.

Dean from Leavenworth, IN

Evan Williams is the highest-rated safety and the highest-rated rookie for all positions by PFF and Xavier McKinney is the second-highest rated safety in its grading. They both do a great job of "hunting the ball." I know the Packers practice ball security in camp, but the drills are primarily for RBs to practice "high and tight." Does Hafley do drills for the defense to work on the "Peanut punch"? Williams looks like he's mastered the punch.

You get what you emphasize, right? Williams talked after the game Sunday about Anthony Campanile's mantra of "God loves those who run to the ball." Good things happen when defenses run to the football. Williams described his forced fumble this way: "He was kind of just running down the center of my helmet, so knew that had a couple guys that were hitting him already and that I was gonna have a good chance to punch the ball out and we teach that. As they fall, the ball gets a little separated from the body and yeah, just try to stick my face right through the ball and it popped out."

Brian from Chesapeake, VA

Brian Gutekunst admitted earlier this season he is not patient with kickers. We have another example. But if BG did his due diligence, I believe the revolving door has stopped. Brandon McManus is money inside 50.

I'll refer you to Spoff’s story as it relates to all things McManus, but on the field, Mike astutely pointed out McManus is 91% for his career inside 50 yards. That's the first time I ever looked at it like that. Digging further into the numbers, I found it interesting Mason Crosby was 86.4% on field goals under 50. The Packers are searching for someone to come through in those "gotta-have-it" moments. McManus now has that opportunity to show he can do it.

Dan from Maquoketa, IA

Well, your admonishments about chortling over the years seem to be coming true, if delayed. I had more than one good chortle directed at our southern rivals after they got rid of Robbie Gould. It took a while but now I see the error of my ways. So, Brandon McManus has been a little bit of a journeyman lately, with a little bit of baggage. Should we be looking at this as a little bit of a stopgap signing?

There are a lot of similarities between QBs and kickers. When a team finds a good one, it typically doesn't want to let him go. It's yet another reminder of how blessed Green Bay was to have a kicker as consistent as Crosby for all those years. For the modern-day Packers, the wheel keeps turning. McManus acknowledged Wednesday the Packers have given him a great opportunity. Let's see what he does with it.

Mike from Cottage Grove, MN

What's your take on getting a new kicker a third way into the season?

It was clear from Brian Gutekunst's media scrum during Wednesday's practice the Packers feel they have to do better at kicker. Brayden Narveson has a premium leg and a mature mindset, but the results just haven't been there on gamedays. The Packers currently are 31st in field-goal percentage at 70.6%, ahead of only the New York Jets' 66.7%.

Scott from Reno, NV

It seems like we finally have a good veteran kicker, but I can't help feeling sorry for Brayden Narveson. Totally get that it's a performance-based business and you have to perform to stay in business, but it's tough to watch these kids with dreams get tossed aside – even where, as here, he got multiple chances to settle down and it needed to happen. I hope his future isn't over.

I'm wishing Narveson nothing but the best. He was a total pro in Green Bay and earned plenty of fans in that locker room during his brief time here.

Mark from West Des Moines, IA

Why do you think it has been so difficult for the Packers to find even an average kicker?

Because kicking in the NFL is not easy.

Grant from Green Bay, WI

2022 NFL Draft: Packers need WRs, draft three of them, problem solved. 2023 NFL Draft: Packers need TEs, draft two of them, keep an undrafted one, problem solved. 2024 NFL Draft: Packers need safeties, draft three of them, problem solved. So logically, in 2025, we should expect them to draft three kickers, right? (Kidding...sort of)

We gotta get through this season first.

Matt from Hawthorne, NJ

Hey guys, would you consider Keisean Nixon to be a field tilter? While not the "best" player on the field so to speak, almost every game he makes a huge play: 40-yard punt return, strip sack, blowing up screens, etc. Just feels as though we hear his name a lot, but for good reasons.

I would consider Nixon just that. You can't have enough Keisean Nixons on your football team. I hope to have a story on him and his overall impact later this week.

Nick from Plainwell, MI

Good morning Insiders! I think everybody will hype up Jordan Love vs. C.J. Stroud. But I'm ready for Josh Jacobs to have another breakout game for us. Anybody on Houston's defense we need to watch out for on any level?

Stroud gets a lot of pub and deservedly so, but the Texans also hit it out of the park with Will Anderson. He's a total stud and worth the considerable investment Houston made to trade three first-rounders and change to get him at No. 3 in 2023. The Packers' offensive line has to be on high alert for No. 51. Green Bay has to account for longtime nemesis Danielle Hunter on the other side, too.

Jason from Austin, TX

Looking at the Texans' offense, to my untrained eye, they seem similar to the Eagles. They have a new veteran running back in Mixon who is a good, shifty, running back on his own but is deadly when he catches the ball. They have a stud veteran wide receiver in Stefon Diggs who has a history of success, and they have a younger receiver (Tank Dell) who is becoming a reliable target. Am I right that they're similar to the Eagles, and is the Packers' defense better suited for this quasi-rematch?

The Texans lose a lot without Nico Collins but seemed to gain a spark with Mixon back in the lineup last week. Indianapolis and New England aren't the belles of this NFL ball, but 261 rushing yards on 43 carries also can't be wrong. Green Bay needs to take what it did well the past few weeks and apply it to stopping Mixon and Co. Again, it all starts with getting hats to the ball carrier.

Rich from Grand Rapids, MI

The national media correctly credits GB for having a long view of developing QBs, but that overshadows a bit what they do with other positions. Pairing young safeties with a highly rated FA, working a potential tackle of the future in a rotation at guard to "get his feet wet" and the list goes on (young DTs paired with Kenny Clark is another). A lot of teams draft and develop, but GB's methodology of development seems to be head and shoulders above their peers.

I need to write a story at some point on all the rotations Green Bay has worked this season. Late in Sunday's game, you saw the value of getting young players reps when Josh Myers had to leave the game. Elgton Jenkins slid over to replace him at center, and suddenly both Jordan Morgan and Sean Rhyan are on the field together.

Jim from Hudsonville, MI

Regarding the improved defensive performance against mobile quarterbacks: Would (could) it have anything to do with Malik Willis running the scout team? I have to believe he adds a dimension that we haven't faced in recent years from our QB2.

The game ultimately comes down to what a defense does on the grass but certainly having an athlete of Willis' caliber provides a good scout. What I've seen the past two weeks is a confident defense getting ball carriers to the ground…and occasionally taking the ball with them.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

Was there any update on Dontayvion Wicks' shoulder injury? If he can't go Sunday, I'd like to predict a Malik Heath Lambeau Leap.

Heath is a good guy to have waiting in the wings, but it looks like the Packers averted more disaster at receiver. Wicks practiced on Wednesday, albeit in a limited capacity. If the Packers practice in pads today, it'll be interesting to see if Wicks is out there.

James from Appleton, WI

Now that Christian Watson has entered the big, ol' gazelle portion of his career, how soon will II be offering "Hit the Gaz!" T-shirts?

Get the trademarks in.

Scotty from Lombard, IL

I understand the reasoning for using Jayden Reed on punt returns before Keisean Nixon. I do believe though that if Nixon is asked/given the opportunity to return punts, he will gladly do it and do it well. Both of these guys are game-breakers.

Nixon has done it at a high level. It just depends on the situation and what the coaches are thinking. But both Nixon and Reed are ready at all times.

Steve from Ankeny, IA

I remain amazed at Brian Gutekunst's ability to draft. I thought 2022 was an amazing draft class, but now I see Javon Bullard, Edgerrin Cooper, Evan Williams, et al. as making a run at my thoughts. I was wondering how you compare his draft classes.

I don't. Contributions over comparison. We can talk about that a decade from now.

Kevin from Westminster, CO

In a copycat league, can we Kraft some additional innovation?

I'm sure Tucker Kraft is up for it.

Marshall from Mesa, AZ

Sorry, time for Inbox math: "As for Lions-Vikings, hard to say this early. I'm just glad one has to lose this week." Really? You forgot about ties? Just kidding, keep up the good work.

Spoff should've written "I'm just glad one has to lose this week…or both have to kiss their sister."

Larry from Chubbuck, ID

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone in Green Bay for making our trip there this weekend better than I thought it ever good be. The tailgaters were so friendly and helpful with little tips like renting the seats. The support staff in the stadium were outstanding. I have to admit I got a little emotional walking out of the tunnel to our seats. The game was fantastic, the stadium tour and the Hall of Fame were unbelievable. Thanks again for the great memories.

I'm glad to hear it, Larry. I'd argue there's no better place in the world to watch a football game than Lambeau Field.

Dennis from Ottawa, IL

I'm thinking the new Whiteout uniforms are looking really sharp and was wondering if they could be used as the team's road uniforms? The color trim on the white seems to make it really stand out. Just a great looking uniform.

Nobody appreciates history more than I do, but it's also special when an iconic franchise like the Packers does something new. I'm excited to see the unis on the field Sunday. Have a good Thursday.