Inbox: Twists and turns define every NFL season

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

Every year and every team are different. The only constant is that every team deals with adversity at some point. The 2024-25 Green Bay Packers got served an early dose. Not many things harder than being without your QB1, especially when he just happens to be one of the rising stars of the league. How will we respond? The Colts game got a lot tougher but the storylines that could be written must be even more tantalizing.

And one storyline we learned Monday is the Packers aren't ruling out Jordan Love yet. Twists and turns define every NFL season. Last year, it was Aaron Jones' hamstring and Aaron Rodgers' thumb the year before that. Attacking adversity is the path to progress and that journey begins in earnest for the 2024 Packers this Sunday against the Colts whether Love is cleared or not.

Bruce from Appleton, WI

Who do you think will be the backup quarterback now?

Spoff did a great job outlining everything following Matt LaFleur's Monday news conference, but the plan calls for Malik Willis to start and Sean Clifford to be the backup if Love isn't cleared on Sunday.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

Neither the Packers nor the Colts played good run defense in Week 1 and they both lost. The chances of winning an NFL game without decent run defense are very small. I think the team that plays better run defense in their matchup will win the game on Sunday.

Perhaps. The odd thing is the Packers (163 yards, 7.8 yards per carry) actually outperformed Philadelphia (144, 3.8 ypc) on the ground, but the Eagles played better situationally. The same exact script came into play with Saquon Barkley Friday. Green Bay bottled him up early before getting gashed a few times in the second half. Green Bay's run defense needs to do it for four quarters. That's it.

Phil from Madison, WI

Lots of concerns from the game, but here's a positive. On several plays, I noticed Rasheed Walker throwing blocks far downfield. Must be fun for a corner or safety to see that coming at them.

As improbable as it may be, the Packers appear to have found their bookends during Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft in Walker and Zach Tom. Tom missed most of the offseason program but sure hasn't skipped a beat since returning. Walker has a lot of talent and athleticism but his willingness to battle is what separates him as a tackle.

Mike from Menomonee Falls, WI

Good morning II. While Friday night's result was disappointing, and the injury to Love is concerning, I came away from the game more encouraged than discouraged. Josh Jacobs getting untracked in the second half, Jayden Reed's exploits, and three turnovers. While this resembled the early losses last year, the quality of opponent was much different. I also love much of what I heard from the players postgame. Considering the Colts coming in this week, which lines will be the bigger challenge, O or D?

With respect to everything Jonathan Taylor can do, I gotta go with the Packers' offensive line. That group is responsible for not only blocking for either Love or Willis but also helping set up Jacobs and the ground game. As much as we talk about Matt Flynn in 2013, I'd argue Eddie Lacy playing at an NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year level was the biggest reason Green Bay stayed alive in Aaron Rodgers' absence.

James from Appleton, WI

Josh Jacobs started flashing his talents as the game went along, thank goodness. In a way similar to how a QB has to make some throws trusting that a receiver will be open when the ball gets there, does a running back go all-out to a spot expecting that a hole will open up by the time he gets there?

It's scheme and instincts. You have play calls for a reason, but it's also how the back reads the front and sets up blocks. Jacobs and the O-line found their rhythm in the second half. As LaFleur mentioned, the answer was as simple as adjusting quicker to Philly's front and blocking better, particularly when it came to linebackers shooting gaps.

Will from Stewartville, MN

Do you think it was coincidence or something else that seemed to allow Emanuel Wilson to have more success early/mid game versus Josh Jacobs? I know Jacobs had more success later, but it seemed like Wilson had more success in his first few drives.

First, Wilson is a talented back. All he's done since coming to Green Bay is run the football well. On 18 attempts, the second-year running back is averaging 7.3. yards per carry in his young NFL career. The blocks were there, too, Friday when Wilson was on the field. It all fits together.

Dave from Germantown, TN

Are there enough hours in the week for Tom Clements and Matt LaFleur to get Malik Willis (or Sean Clifford) ready to play in Week 2?

That's the job. When the starter's out, it's the coaches' responsibility to develop a winnable gameplan for QB2. You have to accentuate the strengths and conceal the weaknesses.

Tom from Lisbon, WI

My son was surprised to learn during the game that a running back was allowed to score a receiving touchdown, and that a wide receiver could score a rushing touchdown. Would it be appropriate to tell him that the Packers once had a wide receiver wearing No. 88 start lining up in the backfield as a running back? Or is this the sort of thing that we as parents are supposed to protect our children from?

I think you need to forgo discussing No. 88 from the past and focus your father-son talks more on No. 11 in the present.

Bob from Basking Ridge, NJ

I love this forum, but I have to take issue with the notion of an entertaining game. If we continue to define entertaining as close score, we miss the point. Teams are sloppier than ever. Poor tackling, dropped passes, fumbles. The refs make mistakes, and we excuse it all because it's early. The NFL doesn't care because most fans cannot tell the difference and all they care about is fantasy football. So, let's be real and at least acknowledge it. Madden said it 15 years ago. It's like preseason.

And I still beg to differ. Not every film is going to be "No Country for Old Men," Bob. Sometimes it's "Deadpool & Wolverine." Football is an imperfect game and the team with fewer mistakes often wins. It's been that way since Curly and the boys first stepped foot on Hagemeister Park.

Mike from Tyler, TX

What's the point of having backup quarterbacks if the starting QB gets hurt and you go out and get a veteran free-agent QB who doesn't know the system or playbook?

Fans seem convinced the NFL is like "Madden," and you can just sign any player at any time and plug him in. That's not how it works. Again, the Packers have their plan and right now it does not involve any outside acquisitions.

Al from Green Bay, WI

I don't think it affected the outcome, but I was surprised Jalen Hurts wasn't called for intentional grounding on the fourth quarter play in which, while in the pocket, he flipped the ball forward short of the line of scrimmage. Yes, a defender was in the process of sacking him, but does that let him off the hook for a blatant throw-away?

No play in the NFL is more unevenly officiated than intentional grounding. For all the conversations NFL owners and the competition committee have had regarding the "catch" rule, I cannot believe nothing has been done about intentional grounding. In my eyes, Hurts either fumbled the ball or was guilty of intentional grounding. The official shouldn't be "guesstimating" the QB's intent with a throw.

Chase from Carmichael, CA

The fix to the kickoff is simple. Essentially require the returner to return it. Require the kicker to land the ball in the field of play (including end zone). If it goes out of bounds in the air anywhere, put it on the 40 (or 50 if needed). If it bounces out of the end zone (or really, anywhere), then put it on the 10-yard line. If the new setup is what brings the injury risk in line with a regular play, then there's no reason to not do this.

The NFL wanted fewer returns, citing player safety, and they're getting that. At first glance, the league owners probably erred in moving touchbacks to the 30 instead of the 35. If they couldn't get the votes at 35, the measure probably should've been tabled for another year.

Steve from Bradenton, FL

Wes's response to glad we hired a new defensive coach: "Yep. Was waiting on that one. Thanks for not disappointing." OK, cute response. But, in reality, you expected the comment and isn't the reason for that the fact that the defense did disappoint? Certainly, it's possibly due to it being the first game, but my concern is it's the same issues that have plagued this D for years. Poor tackling, poor coverage, sloppy penalties and mediocre pass rush.

I mean, sure? The Packers gave up more than 400 yards and struggled to get off the field after the first quarter. It clearly wasn't good enough, but what else do you want me to say? You guys are welcome to jump to conclusions and rush to judgement, but neither helps Green Bay turn things around against Indianapolis. Xavier McKinney said afterward he saw correctable mistakes in the loss. Let's see if the Packers can make 'em.

Kent from Duluth, MN

Learn from the past but look to the future! Love being out for the next few games will hopefully raise the intensity and focus of the rest of the team…and coaches. This is an opportunity to show that we are not just Jordan Love! I am feeling strongly that our guys will do just that, and we shall be a better team for it! Go Pack!

Opportunity is born out of adversity. The Packers have to pull together and win as a team regardless of who is under center.

Bob from Fredericksburg, VA

After all the negatives about our opener, I thought one bright spot was the play of Edgerrin Cooper. He was limited to only a few snaps, but I thought his play stood out. Which after his limited practice time due to injury, I was wondering if we would see him suit up. But he seemed to play fast and aggressive. Hope to see him on the field more. What say you?

Cooper had three tackles and a pass deflection on just 11 snaps. I thought Jeff Hafley had a good plan for the rookie, using Cooper's speed as a blitzing linebacker. As LaFleur said, Cooper is deserving of more opportunities, and it sounds like he's gonna get them.

Lee from Citrus Heights, CA

Did the Vikes get a steal in Sam Darnold? Watson's quote to help Jayden Reed more is a good indicator of how well I think the receivers as a group can play. Beat Indy!

Hey, full credit to Darnold for how well he played against New York. One game is not a season, but that performance was a huge shot in the arm for the Vikings. The beautiful thing about the Packers' receiving corps is anyone can go off at any time. Green Bay just needed a few more catches to help its cause.

Thomas from Oviedo, FL

Going forward the Packers MUST play starters in preseason, and I'll tell you why. Andy Reid, the winningest Game 1 coach, did and the Chiefs came out clicking. The Packers didn't and had the sloppiest game I've seen since the '80s. The Packers could have put this game away early and not have put Love in that position in the end. So, in theory, not playing starters in preseason led to Love's injury in Game 1. More injuries happen in practice. Should they stop practicing, too?

Goodness, there's a lot of hyperbole and innuendo woven into that submission. More injuries happen in practice? Who's your source on that? Place Kansas City as high as you want on the pedestal, but the Chiefs also won because Isaiah Likely's cleats were two sizes too big for the end-zone catch.

John from Byron, MN

It always confuses me when we as fans expect Week 1 to look perfectly polished. There is a side effect of not playing starters in the preseason. I thought the Eagles and the Packers both looked like they hadn't played a full game in months. Hoping they can clean it up, move forward and not lose too much ground with Love out.

Anytime you come up short, everything gets questioned. That's the game. But the reality is 16 teams won and 16 lost in Week 1. There's also this inconvenient truth that the Eagles may be a pretty good football team. Doubtless the Packers must do better to flip the script this Sunday.

Ron from Park Ridge, IL

Where is this improved defense? Same old defense, different couch?

Hey now, let's leave the couches out of this.

Bud from Boyceville, WI

Nice to see our Packers out in the community. Brayden Narveson was the driver of the Grand Marshall at the Prescott parade on Sunday!

The mayor of Prescott has been put on notice.

Dave from Rockford, IL

With many games not viewable now because of pay television options, many fans will not be able to watch many football games. This is not good for the sport's fans or the sport. The greedy NFL seems to be making more money but hurting the game for the future. Do you have any comments on this topic?

I'm with you, Dave, but more than 14 million people watched the game on Peacock. I'm all for easily accessible, over-the-air NFL games, but it's a fool's errand to say people aren't watching streaming.

Mark from Apollo Beach, FL

I thought the Ron Tolbert officiating seminar was going to be in Little Suamico.

I tried but Lee Helmle had the park booked for Little Suamico Days.

Bob from Dundas, MN

I just want to say thanks, Wes. Your words, "One thing life has taught me is to appreciate things for what they are and not what you expect them to be" really crystallized some thinking for me. I've read Insider Inbox all these years for fun, diversion, curiosity and dedication. Little did I know that I'd hear a desperately needed life lesson put so succinctly.

We try our best, Bob. Thank you for reading.