David from Chestertown, MD

Mike, next time you chaise down a davenport pun I'll remain couched in indifference. GPG!

This has officially gotten out of hand.

Brad from Solon Springs, WI

Mike, ope! Wes mentioned soccer yesterday, even made a comparison of rules. Does he secretly watch soccer? Vic would be rolling his eyes and clicking out of the Packer website!

It's the beautiful game to some, the unwatchable one for others. For me? It's all about the cultural significance of the contest.

Bob from Jensen Beach, FL

With Willis' skill set, could you see him taking a Taysom Hill type role once Love returns full time?

I addressed this and several other topics I've seen in the Inbox in my Mid-Week Chat for those who missed it.

Mutt from Blaine, MN

Good morning II. With most positions, preparing for next week's game doesn't need major adjustments depending on who will play. With uncertainty at QB, I would imagine it's a whole different deal. How hard is it for ML to put together plans not knowing which QB will play?

I'm not sure if it's difficult or just extra work. I'm no coach, but I would imagine there's a portion of the game plan that'll be utilized regardless of the QB. Then there are portions tailored specifically to Malik Willis or Jordan Love. I picture a Venn diagram with the overlapping circles (sorry if that qualifies as math).

Jason from Mt. Prospect, IL

Malik Willis is such a professional in terms of how he carries himself. Not one bad thing to say about his time in Tennessee or what led to him being traded after being given minimal opportunity. With that said, I hope deep down inside, he does have a bit of a fire lit. If he does get the start this weekend, which I think he does, he will need to do more than hand the ball off 100 times like last week, against a top defense. How much do you think the game plan will change offensively?

I would expect there are more offensive concepts Willis will be comfortable with now, so perhaps options expand. But I honestly don't know. As for his emotions, he's human and he's going to have them when he walks back into that stadium. How he deals with or channels them is up to him.

Sherman from Eureka, CA

Every week it seems the Packers have a longer injury report than their opponents do. Admittedly, eight of the 12 listed this week are limited practice, so are the Packers just being more cautious with their list?

I've learned to not get too worked up about it. I think the Packers are far more transparent than other teams, though I don't have proof of that. In most circumstances (this week's QB situation notwithstanding), the guys who are sitting out practice entirely, and those who aren't removed from the injury report come Friday afternoon, are the listings that matter most.

Jason from Austin, TX

If Love is medically cleared to play, should it be assumed he's going to play or would LaFleur consider giving him an extra week to recover so he's more healthy for the relatively more important Vikings game on the 29th?

If he's cleared, he's playing. The Packers don't clear players they don't believe can function at or very near peak capacity.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

Which position group, any side of the ball, will have the biggest impact against the Titans?

The defensive line. Will Levis has been sacked seven times in two games and turned the ball over five times (three INTs, two lost fumbles). This game will hinge on Green Bay's defense up front.

Jake from Lansing, MI

Insiders, will this be the week the Bane & Co. is released? Watching Aidan Hutchinson's multi-sack performance last weekend has me itching to see what our talented rushers can do. I understand the need to contain, but where does the mobility fear threshold lie?

This is an important week to test that, because while Levis is not a dual-threat in the same sense Jalen Hurts and Anthony Richardson are, he is mobile (74 rushing yards in two games). Also, as I mentioned on our latest "Unscripted," he may be more inclined than ever to just take off and run if he sees an opening because of all the mistakes he's made early this season trying to force plays that aren't there. The Packers must be cognizant of that.

Terry from Cudahy, WI

Can you please provide insight on Quay Walker's arrow? Understanding it is early in this third year, and it is a seemingly impossible position to master overnight, should we remain patient? His tackle totals will always be the constant but we have young hungry prospects behind him and it just appears that his instincts and football IQ are lacking despite the obvious freak athleticism. Thanks.

Walker's run defense thus far doesn't appear up to the level of his effective pass coverage and blitzing abilities. Whether the coaches want to adjust his role or alignment is up to them, but he's a guy with a ton of responsibility in a brand new system who may just need some more time. What I see on film often is a linebacker in position to make the play but not quite finishing it. I don't think he's as far off as all the grades and metrics being bandied about make it sound.

Michael from Grovetown, GA

One of the biggest questions the Packers continue to address is kicker. The kicker is a game-changing player and always has been. With the release of the 2025 HOF nominees, you can see several NFL legends in the kicker category that are in the top five of all-time scoring (Gary Anderson, Jason Hanson, and Adam Vinatieri). Unfortunately, probably none will be selected. You guys are part of the media, why so little love for these guys?

Vinatieri is getting in someday. Whether it's on the first ballot or not, I don't know. But he's the league's all-time leading scorer by a pretty significant margin, and he's got multiple game-winning field goals in Super Bowls. He's getting in.

Steve from Scranton, PA

Quick follow-up to Richard from Madison on Titans' DC Dennard Wilson. He was a highly respected DB coach for the Eagles, but did not get the open DC position (much to the chagrin of his players) prior to the 2023 season, and was signed by the Ravens the day after he was "released." Since then, the Eagles are now on their third DC and have also cycled through three OCs in the past three years. Other than great QB play, is organizational stability the most important factor in consistent winning football?

It doesn't hurt, but it's not the be-all, end-all. This is LaFleur's sixth season, and he's on his third DC and third STC but has only missed the playoffs once.

Venny from Montgomery, AL

I heard that through two weeks the league average for rush yards per game is about 125, which would be the highest since 1988. Also, the league average for passing yards per game is about 190, the lowest since 1996. Do you think that's a trend or is it that teams are still fine tuning their passing execution before opening it up a bit more later in the season?

I'd guess probably the latter, but who knows. The game at this level is played with constant adjustments at the line of scrimmage, so if defenses are giving good looks for offenses to run the ball, they're going to run it.

Nate from New Lisbon, WI

What are your thoughts on the drastically low number of touchdown passes through Week 2 this year? Something like 66 so far vs. 105 through Week 2 in 2022. I thought rules were supposed to favor the offense more than before.

I'm not entirely sure what to make of that, either, but there's been a lot of strangeness to the start of this season in many respects. Ten road teams won in Week 2. Ten! The bottom line is draw no conclusions about anything in the early weeks. None.

Dennis from Hinzerath, Germany

Good morning gentlemen. I toured the stadium Monday and was amazed how many chairs there are in the press box. Are those all occupied during the season or does that vary from regular to postseason? Thanks for all you do to keep us up to date.

The vast majority are filled for any given regular-season game. I don't think I've ever seen an empty seat for a postseason game, and often more chairs are brought in when possible.

Earl from Lake Zurich, IL

Why does the league not want offensive linemen downfield before the ball is passed?

Because it isn't fair to the defense to have to decipher which downfield targets are eligible receivers.

Tom from Keota, IA

Hi II. Those ineligible downfield calls are going to stay at these inflated numbers as long as teams are running so many option plays, yes? The linemen are operating on a count, as I understand it – stay in and block for whatever count, then it's likely a run, so they start moving downfield. If the QB keeps the play alive and then throws the ball, the lineman is caught out. Not their fault, but their flag.

Bingo.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

What is our team record for turnovers in a season? Is it 40? 45? Could we get 50 in 2024?

Two weeks in and you're thinking records already? The Packers' defense generated 54 turnovers in 1981 (16 games). The best per-game average was in 1943, with 51 in 10 games.

Monty from Velva, ND

Many fans are bemoaning the fact that Christian Watson was not involved in the offense last week. Do these people not watch the game at all?! He was blocking his tail off. 261 yards rushing takes a team effort.

Indeed, and beware the fantasy football moaners. Also, for what it's worth, passing game coordinator Jason Vrable told reporters Thursday the play Willis couldn't throw the vomit ball was designed for Watson and he was open, well behind the corner downfield.

Dominic from Chesapeake, VA

Mike, with you being a former baseball player, what did you think of the number of quarterbacks that don't seem to know how to slide? Tua's failure to slide could cost him a career. I realize that QBs get better field position by going down headfirst, but if I were coaching I would almost mandate it. MW took an awkward hit inside the 5-yard line that a slide would have prevented. Do you ever see our QBs practicing this art? Thanks!

They all know how to slide. They just sometimes neglect to do so based on the situation in the moment, which is where danger lurks. Tua's latest concussion happened on a fourth-down play where he's scrambling up the middle. He needs the first down but can't see a yellow line on the field like those of us watching on TV can. Willis was thinking, incorrectly it turned out, that he had a chance to score on his run and took an unnecessary risk. These guys are competitors and nobody can coach that out of them, nor would anyone want to.

Jason from Roscoe, IL

Hello Insiders, I noticed Kenny Clark in coverage a few times. I don't understand that at all. Can you help me understand this? Would they want their best D-lineman in the trenches? Thank you!

It's not the norm, but occasionally the call is a zone blitz, which isn't really a blitz because it's often still rushing just four, but a defender from the second level rushes while a lineman drops into coverage to replace him. It's a way to test an offense's protection calls and try to confuse the QB with different looks. It's how Raji got his pick-six and did the hula dance in Chicago. Clark dropped on a zone-blitz look on Richardson's fourth-down/fourth-quarter/red-zone scramble last Sunday, and if he hadn't slipped at the end of his drop when he reset his feet, he probably would've prevented Richardson from picking up that first down.

John from Hamilton, Canada

Thanks so much for WYMM, it's so informative. Someone recently commented that Coach Hafley is adept at getting the defensive call to the players very rapidly. Since he can't possibly know what the offense is planning to run, how does Coach Hafley decide what defensive formation to call, prior to both teams lining up? Is it based on down/distance, tendencies, or some other knowledge of the other team? Thanks for such comprehensive coverage of our team.

The defensive call and the assignments within are based mostly on the offensive personnel and down/distance. The actual defensive formation is predicated on how the offense lines up, which then can lead to adjustments to the call if necessary.

Rich from Grand Rapids, MI

If nothing else, the performance of our run game in Week 2 is going to make game planning against the GB offense far more difficult for the DCs in our next several games. If GB can run the ball like that with Love under center, the play-action game is going to be crazy good.

That's the plan, Stan. I mean, Rich.

Jim from Tempe, AZ

Jayden Reed led the NFL in receiving yards in Week 1. Josh Jacobs led the NFL in rushing yards in Week 2. If the offense can de that dynamic and versatile all season, they will cause defensive coordinators many sleepless nights.

That, too.

Bill from Phoenix, AZ

DISMEMBER THE TITANS!

Yikes. Happy Friday.