Inbox: He just keeps holding his own

Jim from Eau Claire, WI

Wes and Spoff, do you guys ever argue or yell at each other? You seem to get along very well but there has to be times when you just have to blow off some steam.

Ha. Oh, we each have our days. This job can be very stressful, exhausting and everything in between. But we don't take it out on each other. We're always familiar with what the other is going through.

Steve from Cedar Falls, IA

I think the team is better off not bringing in too many older players as this bunch seems to feed off the new kids' vibe. Are you seeing this?

To a certain extent, yeah, and so is the salary cap.

Bruce from Fishers, IN

Hello II. Last season during training camp and throughout the season I noticed a different vibe among the players, and I'm noticing the same thing this season. The players seem to be practicing/playing with a heightened sense of urgency than in previous years. This is not meant to disparage previous teams but I certainly don't see any players telling each other to relax. Am I imagining that or is there a different vibe with these players?

As noted above, the different vibe comes from the youth, and young players practice a little differently than seasoned veterans because there are differences in what it takes to get ready to play at this level based on experience. So that's what I see, but nothing more than that.

Richard from Madison, WI

Thoughts about the Vikings QB situation?

It was just awful to hear about McCarthy. That's a huge bummer for him and that organization. I cringe when news like that breaks.

Jason from Mt. Prospect, IL

You have to feel for Minnesota with all that they have gone through this offseason. J.J. McCarthy being shut down for the season is devastating for them, but it's in our Packers DNA to believe that a redshirt year for an extremely young kid with great potential is not the absolute worst thing possible. He will have a full season of learning the DO's and DONT's from Sam Darnold. As for the rest of the division, it's looking like a three-team race this season.

The problem with the "redshirt year" idea in this case is a player can't practice when on injured reserve. So it's not the same as a rookie year of development running the scout-team offense in practice, for example.

Jerry from Fort Wayne, IN

As someone who gets way too many emails, this Inbox is the best – insatiable work II! I see an article has Josh Jacobs being the Pack's key difference maker while Aaron Jones was the same for those in purple. Thoughts? Which ability of the two will be the ultimate success factor for them and their team?

They're both crucial to their respective clubs, there's no doubt about that, and I would've said so about Jones before Minnesota's QB injury. They both bring so much to the table, especially if the Packers use Jacobs in the passing game as much as they're talking about. Which ability? Availability.

Jordi from Aalsmeer, Netherlands

Hi Mike, have you guys already done an article on Grant DuBose and his "backstory"? Jason Vrable's comments about his tough mentality and where he came from gave him a chip on his shoulder got me really interested. He looks like a player to always root for.

I haven't fully dived into DuBose's pre-college background, but I did have a nice chat with him the other day after practice about his current bid for a roster spot.

Clem from La Crosse, WI

Enjoyed the article on Grant DuBose. Well done, Mike. But the star of that story was Emma's picture at the top. Wow!

Another dandy. Just dynamite work.

Dennis from Boise, ID

Is there a league copyright issue or something that won't let me stream the radio broadcast on my phone or tablet? Being out of market for many televised games, it would be nice to be able to use something a little more portable.

The NFL has broadcast restrictions when it comes to mobile devices, so to listen to the stream of the radio broadcast on our mobile site or app, you must be in the local market. But if you're on our desktop site, you can listen to the radio stream anywhere in the world.

Kelly from Stoughton, WI

My goodness, why someone would cheer or hope for a guy like AJ Dillon to be left off this roster is maddening. Follow that up with a veteran QB question, I suppose it really is preseason for everyone. I assume the questions get better when the bologna stops? We are almost there right, we gotta be, tell me we are.

Not yet. There are still daily inquiries regarding Brandon Aiyuk or CeeDee Lamb because of all the clickbait crap out there. Those articles continue to show up in your feeds, folks, because you click on them. That's how algorithms work. Those desiring a veteran backup QB don't understand the cap ramifications and how that can cost you a quality player at another starting position, as well as all the practice reps taken from the young, developmental guys. And then there's this below.

Gary from Austin, MN

With the uncertainty at offensive tackle is there ANY chance they re-sign David Bakhtiari?

I don't mean to pick on Rashan Gary here because this question has come from all corners of the globe. The answer is none. Zero. I don't believe Bakhtiari will sign anywhere he's not the starting left tackle. He will sign somewhere in order to play, not be a backup. If he's healthy and good to go when some team loses (or is looking to replace) its starter, Bakhtiari's phone will ring.

Tom from Wells, ME

What is the issue with allowing all teams to carry an extra 10 or 15 bodies on the practice squad? What does it hurt? They would still be allowed to get signed by other teams as it is now, but it would allow for 10 or 15 more kids to earn a paycheck and allow teams to have a bigger stable of backups ready to go due to injury and long season. It's a win-win for everyone and no more or less of an advantage for any team. Am I missing something?

Well, the minimum practice-squad salary for 2024 is $12.5K per week so (sorry about the math) an additional 10 players for 18 weeks would force teams to fit at least another $2.25M under the cap, taking that much cumulative salary away from active-roster players. Plus there's all the non-salary expense the owners would incur having that many more players around. The Packers wouldn't concern themselves much with that additional cost, but the Packers don't have an owner footing the bill.

Phil from Paris, IL

I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but I was wondering … do the players on the practice squad sit in the position group meetings throughout the year? Or do they have their own meetings that deal with running the scout team? Maybe certain players go to position group meetings if they know they're being elevated for a game? Thank you both for all you do and thank you for giving us cheeseheads a place to be heard!

They attend all meetings with their position group. Scout-team prep is separate, and often on their own time.

Duane from Oak Creek, WI

Do you think there will be any major changes with the new kickoff rules before the regular season gets underway?

Major changes? Not likely. Tweaks and adjustments to the rules? Probably.

Bill from Brooklyn Park, MN

So if the "wedge" was made illegal 15 years ago because it was resulting in injuries from high-speed collisions, and the new kickoff format reduces those high speeds … is there any reason to not make the wedge legal again at the new, lower speeds?

I don't think there's any time to form a wedge when all the players in the setup zone aren't allowed to move until the ball is touched by the returner.

Matt from Middleton, WI

Hi Mike, my take on the new kickoff rule. It leads to improved field position for the offense, which leads to more scoring which leads to greater stats, records etc., which leads to improved ratings which leads to more money.

That could ultimately be the result. If offenses are going to start most drives at the 30 or better, scoring should go up.

Bob from Emmaus, PA

While watching a replay of the Cleveland game, on the play before his late second-quarter touchdown, Emanuel Wilson rides Sean Rhyan's coattail by grabbing his jersey and following him for a 9-yard gain. Is this legal? If it is, why don't we see it more?

It is legal, but it's not often an offensive lineman is in such open space downfield before blocking somebody.

Jeremy from St. Catherine's Canada

OBJ and Adam Thielen both took their first snaps in 2014. Over their first two seasons OBJ outpaced Thielen on receiving yards 2,755 to 281, despite playing five fewer games. One seemed destined for Canton and one was just a guy. They're now almost tied in yards. What player(s) have surprised you the most in how their trajectories turned, for better or worse?

After three seasons in the NFL – three full years – Donald Driver had started just four games and caught 37 passes for 520 yards. Then he went on to become the franchise's all-time leading receiver in both categories.

Ross from Hudson, WI

Is Isaiah McDuffie the most overlooked Packer on the roster? I didn't realize a "stuff" is an NFL stat, but ESPN credits McDuffie with 11 last season. For reference Walker had 5.5 last year, AJ Hawk never had more than seven, Clay Matthews never had more than seven, Rashan Gary has never had more than 5.5, and Kenny Clark has never had more than seven last year when he had arguably the best year of his career. No. 58 needs more love.

Wes and I talked about McDuffie a bit on our latest "Unscripted" episode. He just keeps holding his own.

Mike from Baraboo, WI

It will be fun to watch the two backup QBs this weekend and in the upcoming preseason games. Do you have a prediction of who will earn the No. 2 position prior to the start of the season?

This is another "Unscripted" topic we discussed. The competition is tightening for sure. I still think it'll be difficult to unseat Sean Clifford because he has so much more experience in the system, but Michael Pratt's progress is undeniable. There's plenty to watch these last two preseason games.

Tony from Sussex, WI

You mentioned that all tickets have been distributed for the Packers' joint practice with the Broncos in Denver. Are the Packers doing the same and distributing tickets for their joint practice with the Ravens in Green Bay next week? I was planning on driving up for this practice, but not sure if I need a ticket or not.

No, seats at Nitschke Field will be first-come, first-served for the joint practice with Baltimore, as they are for all of Green Bay's open practices in camp.

Herbert from Palm Desert, CA

Good morning, Mike. When I read that teams play vanilla defenses or pare down the playbook for preseason games, I'm always left wondering why. There's plenty of film on the Packer offense out there and there's only so many ways defenses can be run. Is it more about how plays are run with certain personnel and how a defense might disguise what it's doing? What am I missing?

There's that, but teams also modify and expand their playbooks each offseason, and they prefer to keep those changes under wraps until the real games.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

One of the big news stories from Week 1 of the preseason is how well most of the rookie quarterbacks played. Well, that's certainly better than plating poorly, but I'm sure that Week 1 of the regular season will be as different as day and night for the rookie QBs.

Everyone has to start somewhere, but indeed it will.

James from Appleton, WI

When you hear a quote like Carrington Valentine's having to be inside looking out a window, does a bell go off in your head and you think, "That's a keeper!" The quote not only perfectly captures the feeling of having to sit out practice, it says a lot about Valentine, both now and when he was growing up. I love it!

That's one of my favorite quotes of the year so far. Happy Friday.