Inbox: It speaks to the depth of this Packers roster

Gary from Middleton, WI

Yesterday morning was like Christmas Day. Didn't get everything you hoped for, but overall, very excited.

The table is set. Dinner is warm in the oven. Almost time to eat.

Chase from Carmichael, CA

Coincidence or do we have insiders in Tennessee?

NFL cutdown day sometimes takes you to interesting places.

Joe from Wausau, WI

I keep reading that the Packers have major question marks at backup QB, backup OT and kicker. I keep thinking a lot of teams would like to have the Packers' problems.

It's funny. Some teams have major question marks at quarterback and offensive tackle, let alone backups. But that's how life goes in Green Bay. You're never going to build a perfect roster. Even if you did, injuries are always lurking around the corner. So, you give yourself options…which the Packers have done.

Chris from Waukesha, WI

It's Carlson...no, it's Joseph...no, it's Podlesny...no, it's Hale....no it's...Narveson?

It has been quite the rollercoaster. Hopefully, Brayden Narveson is the man to slow things down.

Stan from Jupiter, FL

Why not give Mason Crosby a call? What am I missing?

Because this isn't Madden Ultimate Team mode? You're likely unfamiliar with Narveson. No problem, but Packers fans are too preconditioned to look to the past for answers than acknowledging this is a young man's game.

Jim from Hudsonville, MI

The kicker carousel continues. What can you tell us about Brayden Narveson? Also, how difficult is it for the holder to adapt to a new kicker?

It's not that big of a deal unless the kicker is left-footed (e.g. Giorgio Tavecchio in 2013). Narveson showed in the preseason he's capable of kicking in the NFL, going 6-of-7 with two made extra points. If the league wasn't already hip to his talent, Narveson gained a lot of fans with his 59-yarder against Seattle. I'll have more on Narveson as soon as he gets to Green Bay and passes his physical.

Tom from West Palm Beach, FL

I don't know why but the addition of Narveson, likely keeping our UDFA streak alive, makes me irrationally happy.

Narveson figures to be the fourth undrafted rookie to make the Packers' Week 1 roster after being claimed off waivers, joining Ben Sims (2023), Chris Odom (2017) and Jhurell Pressley (2016).

Kevin from Jenison, MI

Three (former) Packers claimed by other teams is a lot. Congratulations to them and what a testament to the solid roster Brian Gutekunst and his staff have put together.

It speaks to the depth of this Packers roster. As Matt Schneidman astutely pointed out, this is the first time the Packers have had anyone claimed on waivers since 2017 (Taysom Hill). Grant DuBose, Anthony Johnson Jr., Royce Newman and Kristian Welch are all 53-caliber players. I think it says a lot about DuBose, too, that he was the only wideout claimed in the entire league. The Packers had some very difficult decisions to make but they can rest easier after watching the likes of Zayne Anderson, Arron Mosby and Malik Heath earn their spot with strong performances down the stretch.

Tom from Emerado, ND

Awwww…man! We lost Grant DuBose? I see him becoming a top WR 10 in the league within two years.

Wishing DuBose nothing but the best in Miami. He was a total pro in Green Bay. What's incredible to me is how Gutekunst and Co. knocked it out of the park in drafting Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and DuBose last year.

Michael from Tyler, TX

Are you surprised that Kalen King was cut over Corey Ballentine?

The Packers benefitted greatly last season from Ballentine's experience and versatility. He also is a core special-teams player. King has a ton of potential, but he's still only 21 years old. Learning the NFL ropes on the practice squad should be beneficial for him, particularly on special teams.

Jonnie from Garden City, MI

Good morning, II! Seems there's a lot to unpack from all the activity on cutdown day, followed by waiver-wire pickups and building the practice squad, followed by last-minute adjustments to the 53-man roster. It's a tough business. We've even seen that being on the initial 53 is no guarantee that you'll still be there next week! Have any post-cutdown roster moves in recent history truly surprised you? If so, which one(s)?

The butterfly effect is omnipresent in the NFL, so nothing truly surprises me. I did reminisce with James Jones on Saturday during Packers pregame radio, recalling the time Rob Demovsky, Kaitlin Sharkey and I waited James out at Austin-Straubel Airport when he was flying in for a workout after final cuts in 2015. The Packers signed Jones a few hours later and cut Myles White, who then signed to the New York Giants' practice squad.

Lori from Heredia, Costa Rica

Hey Weston. Wow. Excitement is building for Brazil. I recently saw there will be a halftime show during the game. Does this happen often outside of the Super Bowl? I also saw an enormous mural is being painted of Jordan Love and Jalen Hurts on an apartment building in Sao Paulo.

Lori, don't tell me you've forgotten Jack Harlow's halftime performance on Thanksgiving in Detroit? Yes, the NFL occasionally has a singer or band to perform at halftime of marquee events. Having Anitta perform at the first NFL game in a South American country makes a lot of sense.

Terry from Bethesda, MD

Which do you strive harder to achieve, separating your personal emotions from the players you write about, or incorporating those emotions into your stories in a professional manner?

It's probably more than former than the latter but I personally find emotional connection to be critical when writing profiles. Because if I don't feel something, how can I expect the reader to?

Al from Tulsa, OK

This Malik Willis is one very articulate young man. He hit a grand slam in his first locker-room session.

He sure did. I very much enjoyed our chat with the new QB2.

Lori from Brookfield, WI

Wes, thank you for the insightful article on Malik Willis. Have you seen him in practice? How long does it take to get up to speed on the playbook? What are your first impressions?

I liked Willis coming out of Liberty in 2022. His college tape was something to behold. To me, Willis didn't get a fair shake in Tennessee. The Titans had an established veteran at QB and then proceeded to use another Day 2 pick on the position the year after they drafted Willis. Still only 25, Willis has a unique skill set Tennessee rarely tapped into. I'm curious what Matt LaFleur and Tom Clements can do with him. Like Spoff said, the Packers may need to lean on Clifford here during the first month of the season while Willis gets up to speed on everything but he's still a premium athlete playing a premium position.

Mark from Garden City, ID

I hope our new backup QB and waiver claims have passports. I would think long ago all players would just get them, just in case. And I'll let the Packers organization worry about the rest.

Willis confirmed he does. The Titans played in London last year.

Darren from Wakefield, MI

Question and a comment. If I'm Michael Pratt or Clifford, what is my incentive to come back to GB, if clear waivers, when I know they will only keep two QBs on the 53 and I'm not going to be one of them but for a possible couple/three games? More than half of the top 10 all-time leading scorers in Packers history are kickers. Kickers are important.

Um, knowledge of the playbook and weekly paychecks? You can't predict the future. You can only operate in the present. Just look at Corey Ballentine and Bo Melton. Both players could've joined another practice squad after they didn't make the Packers' initial 53 last year. But they stayed, opportunities arose and they played major minutes for Green Bay.

Tom from Nolanville, TX

Wes, so NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, while heaping praise on Willis, compares his build and play style to that of Jalen Hurts. Does that mean the Packers have finally found their "Tush" to "Push?"

I still prefer the "Love Shove."

Bruce from Jackson, WI

Morning Wes, much has been debated this summer whether we had a solid backup for Jordan Love, and it appears rightly so. With all of the potential on the team this year, I couldn't understand how or why we would trust a rookie or sophomore QB who hasn't played a snap in the NFL in case Love was hurt. I have to believe Gute realized with all the first- and second-year QBs starting after the final cutdown that he would have some options. Gute is playing chess while others are playing checkers!

I think the Packers took stock of their QB situation and saw an opportunity to improve. In the process, Green Bay still retained Sean Clifford as QB3. It's a similar situation to Arizona, where Desmond Ridder also returned on the Cardinals' practice squad.

Tom from Lisbon, WI

By not giving them the designation to return, placing AJ Dillon and Tyler Davis on IR ends their season. What is the reason for placing them on IR instead of just waiving them, or releasing them with an injury settlement? Either way they don't get to play with the team this year. Is there some benefit to the team with placing them on IR? Some benefit to the player? I'd like to think that somehow, it's to do right by those guys, but that also isn't how the NFL tends to work.

Injury settlements don't apply to season-ending injuries. They're used for pulled hamstrings and sprained ankles – injuries that don't sideline a player for an entire season. Even then, team and player must agree to terms. The goal for the player is to get cleared and realize another NFL opportunity in that same season. Dillon and Davis are dealing with significant injuries. Davis' wife, in a heartful Instagram post, already said Tyler has undergone shoulder surgery. He's done for the year. There's nothing to settle. Now please, out of respect to everyone involved, stop asking about injury settlements.

Grant from Janesville, WI

Sad to see AJ Dillon land on season-ending IR. What a shame! We've lost several players to neck injuries. Does a player get a say in whether they go on IR, or does the team make that decision? Does Dillon get a chance to advocate for himself and say he would be safe to play later?

Players have to sign off on placement on injured reserve.

Scott from Sunburst, MT

When the front office waives a player at cutdown do they let the player know that they would or wouldn't like them back on the practice squad?

Yeah, they often tell players they want to sign to the practice squad to stick around. The Packers practiced Wednesday, so it was important to keep everyone in town. Twelve players on Green Bay's initial practice squad were on the field.

Aiden from St. Charles, IL

What are your thoughts on AJ Dillon being done for the season? Thoughts on MarShawn Lloyd starting his rookie year? And do you honestly think that this running back duo will do good in the regular season?

It's a tough blow for AJ Dillon, the running back, but what's most important right now is the wellbeing of AJ Dillon, the person. I just hope everything works out OK. Yes, I think this running back duo will do well. I also think Emanuel Wilson is a heck of a running back who can ease this transition.

Patrick from Oronoco, MN

With Carrington Valentine switching his number from No. 37 to 24, does he have to purchase all existing jerseys?

No, because he wasn't a first-round pick like Darnell Savage when he tried to switch to "21."

John from Janesville, WI

What? I'm shocked they didn't at least put Kristian Welch on waivers for a chance to being on the practice squad. Just saying again.

Welch is a vested veteran with four NFL seasons who's free to sign with any team. He wasn't subject to waivers.

Jenn from Peoria, IL

Is Kristian Welch too veteran to be on the practice squad? I thought he played really well in the preseason.

You can't be too veteran to sign to the practice squad anymore. Each team can have six players with unlimited experience on its practice squad.

TK from Grafton, WI

Extremely random, but MLB has adjusted very quickly to the rules for speeding up the game. I cannot remember the length of games even being discussed as an issue in the NFL. Has there ever been such a discussion? (By the way, I'm fine with things the way they are. Just asking out of curiosity.)

I don't remember hearing much about that other than perhaps cutting five minutes off overtime. However, there is a big difference between NFL teams playing one three-hour game on Sunday and MLB squads playing several three-plus-hour games each week.

Jeremy from Troy, IL

What is your take on the whole "Private Equity Ownership" approval for NFL teams?

I'm glad the Packers are community owned.

Mike from New Orleans, LA

Thank you for the "5 Things on Malik Willis." It makes me wonder, does the "5 things" format ever leave you scratching your head to find a fifth item for some players?

That's the beauty of the internet. There's always some tidbit of information flying out there.