This Sunday’s Packers-Vikings game at Lambeau Field is ripe with storylines, foremost of which are the likely return of Jordan Love after missing two games with a knee injury and the Green Bay return of beloved former Packers running back Aaron Jones, who’s off to a hot start with Minnesota.
Let’s dive into this week’s mailbag ahead of the big early-season game.
Do you think it makes sense for, even when Love is back, to use Malik Willis in specific goal-line sets to utilize his speed on option plays? — @WillNetsFan
This is a tricky one. On one hand, the Packers like Willis’ skill set to do what you propose. On the other, you don’t want to make it too predictable when he comes in. Sure, he could either hand the ball off or keep it himself in your hypothetical like he did for the opening touchdown against the Titans, so there’s still unpredictability. But I think you also want to have the possibility of a pass and it’s unlikely the Packers take the ball out of Love’s hands if they’re going to throw. The Packers also might just want Love on the field over Willis no matter the situation if he’s healthy. If they run a two-quarterback set, I’ll eat my shorts.
🎙️New Brick and the Stick with @kuhnj30🎙️
Jordan Love probably returns on Sunday.
So does Aaron Jones.
Breaking down those storylines, plus Packers-Titans, Malik Willis’ heroics, Aaron Rodgers taking a shot at John, Packers-Vikings and more: https://t.co/HavPh8SPeT
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) September 24, 2024
Do you foresee Rasheed Walker losing the left tackle spot in the near future? Guy is a walking penalty. Alternative option, you may ask? Elgton Jenkins? Move Jordan Morgan into the lineup at guard? — @NKapitz
No, I don’t see him losing the spot any time soon. Do the penalties need to get cleaned up? Of course. Four holding penalties in three games isn’t good. But according to ESPN Analytics, Walker has the second-best pass-block win rate in the NFL among offensive tackles. Walker’s run-blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus, is an abysmal 66th among tackles who have played multiple games, but it’s clear coaches don’t yet see that as enough of a reason to take him out of the starting lineup. Also, take that ranking with a grain of salt since PFF ranked Tucker Kraft as the team’s third-worst run blocker against the Colts and that seems to be far from the truth. Coaches always emphasize getting their best five out there on the offensive line and they still appear to believe that best five includes Walker and Jenkins on the left side instead of Jenkins and Morgan, who is currently injured.
Realistically, what does Xavier McKinney need to do to really break into DPOY conversation? Even with three picks in three games, he’s not in the top 12 for odds. — @Delhome17
The last safety who won Defensive Player of the Year was Troy Polamalu in 2010. It’s very rare. Sacks and tackles for loss stand out, which is why a defensive lineman has won the award nine out of the last 10 years. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore was the exception in 2019. McKinney would probably need at least double-digit interceptions and not give up many back-breaking plays, if any. Then maybe he’ll have a shot. Maybe a first-team All-Pro nod is more realistic to hope for.
Xavier McKinney has a INT in every game this year! @mckinney15__
📺: #GBvsTEN on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/cBJg4xDZSE— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
What’s going on with the Matt LaFleur Podcast? I thought it was going to be a weekly pod. — @Aram3323
Monthly. Sorry if there was any confusion. The second episode should be dropping next week with about 25 minutes of conversation with the head coach.
Has Emanuel Wilson secured the No. 2 RB position moving forward? — @aadepaola
For now, yes. Quite the turn of events after we entered preseason thinking it would be AJ Dillon and MarShawn Lloyd behind Josh Jacobs. When Lloyd returns from the ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve after the Colts game, he’ll have to earn snaps back from Wilson since the latter has really impressed so far. Wilson got 14 touches against the Titans and Jacobs got 15. Coaches’ trust in him has improved and he’s grown in the non-running aspects of the position, too. The Packers entered this season with a clear-cut No. 1 in the backfield in Jacobs, which he still is, but they might have more of a 1-2 punch than anyone thought just a couple weeks ago.
So far I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Devonte Wyatt this season. When does he make the jump to start over T.J. Slaton? — @J_Mac302
Defensive linemen rotate often, so it doesn’t always matter who starts, per se. Wyatt played 54 percent of the defensive snaps on Sunday and Slaton played 28. On the season, Wyatt has played 16 more snaps than Slaton. Wyatt already has five tackles for loss and three sacks. He had six tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks all last season while playing all 17 games. Don’t worry. Coaches recognize that production, too.
Any thoughts on when we might see more Evan Williams snaps? Thought he looked good in the preseason and was hearing a lot about him in camp. — @EARTHM0VERRR
He did look good in preseason, and that’s part of the reason why defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley wanted to get him on the field more after playing zero defensive snaps in the opener. He played 20 against the Colts and Hafley said after that game, “I thought he did some really nice things in his first game … There’s some plays where you can see he had it in practice, he knew it and he’s close, right? I think as the game went and he got comfortable, he started to see things faster and better. I think that’s going to come with time.” Against the Titans, he only played four defensive snaps, but he’s not in the top two safeties and Keisean Nixon is the nickel, so there may not be a ton of opportunities to get Williams on the field outside of dime.
Who is the best team in the NFC? Niners have looked pedestrian in two games. Vikings are killing it, but how long does that last? Eagles are up and down. Packers haven’t gotten to full power yet and the Lions haven’t been amazing, either. — @ofjubwouewp
It’s only three weeks in, but I’m going with the Vikings right now because of who they’ve beaten. They dealt with the 49ers in Week 2 and trounced the Texans in Week 3 after handling the Giants in Week 1. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores have that team buzzing, which is why Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field should be so entertaining. A team that’s 1-2 could very well be the NFC’s top seed come playoff time, though. There’s so much season left, as shown last year by the team I cover starting 3-6 and almost making it to the NFC Championship Game.
Have the Packers played three tough D-lines or do you think the offensive line needs to be better? — @ChinskiTweets
They have certainly faced a couple of tough defensive lines, but the front five can be better. It depends on what numbers you look at, though. According to Pro Football Focus, the Packers rank tied for fifth in fewest sacks allowed and have had their way on the ground in spurts during each game. However, they rank 25th in pass-block win rate and 18th in run-block win rate, according to ESPN Analytics.
If Jordan Love plays this week (which we are all assuming he does) are we still going to see Sean Clifford activated? — @LukeErickson69
I would be surprised. Why have three quarterbacks active when you can use the third quarterback spot on a special teams player? If the Packers play Love, that means they’re confident the risk of reinjury is low. The odds that Love and Willis both get hurt in the same game are even lower.
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If Love had lost to the Bears in the last week of the season, thus hadn’t played in Dallas or San Francisco, would we still consider him in the same light as our franchise QB? — @pagesheldon18
Definitely not. That Dallas game did wonders for the perception of Love outside the building. That being said, I’m not sure those couple of weeks changed the perception of Love inside the building much. That stretch certainly helped show Love could do what he’d been doing but on a bigger stage. They still would’ve paid him this summer since the decision to do so was based on much more than just those couple of games.
What does LaFleur do if Malik out-performs Jordan? — @Ayero2
Nothing. And nobody should expect him to, either. Love is the franchise quarterback. Willis is a reliable backup. That’s it. If Love has a stinker Sunday and the Packers lose, there are sure to be some knuckleheads in the fanbase calling for Willis to play again and saying that the Packers brought Love back too soon. I’m already bracing for it.
(Photo of Malik Willis: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
