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STAY or LEAVE: Malik Willis delivers the perfect answer to question about his Packers future….

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STAY or LEAVE: Malik Willis delivers the perfect answer to question about his Packers future….

The Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis / Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

It’s not an exaggeration to say the Green Bay Packers would be in trouble without Malik Willis.

When the Packers hosted the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, they were 0-1 and forced to start a quarterback who hadn’t even been on the team for three weeks. Meanwhile, Jordan Love faced multiple games on the sideline. Willis proved that the offense could still find success without Love and helped the team go 2-0 in his two starts.

Last week, with the Packers trailing the Jacksonville Jaguars and Love forced out of the game with a groin injury, in stepped Willis. This time, he had to make something happen without the benefit of a week of first-team reps. No problem. Willis completed four of five passes for 56 yards and a touchdown while adding 23 yards on the ground.

Willis led a game-winning drive. He did it again.

To steal a phrase from Cody Rhodes, Willis went from undesirable to undeniable. The Tennessee Titans didn’t deem him good enough to win their backup job in the summer. Now, they are in a quarterback mess while Willis is thriving in Green Bay.

Having completed 74.4 percent of his passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 137 yards and a score, it would be understandable if Willis had one eye on the future. He is bound to get an opportunity with a team searching for a quarterback in the offseason.

Malik Willis is focused on the present, not his Packers future

With Love questionable for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, the Packers may need Willis again. He was asked whether he views his opportunities in Green Bay as an audition for other teams and is thinking about his long-term future.

“Not really. We’ve still got a lot of games left in this season. We’ve got a game next week against a really good opponent. I feel like that’s what we’ve got to focus on right now. Anything more than that is pride,” said Willis. “I’m just enjoying the ride and taking it one game at a time, one week at a time, one day at a time. That’s it.”

It’s hard not to come away impressed any time Willis speaks. He is always calm and has a good perspective. He showed no signs of bitterness when the Packers played the Titans only weeks after getting traded. Even now, when things couldn’t have gone any better for him, Willis provided a classy answer about his future.

In reality, trade opportunities could come up for Willis in the offseason, potentially leaving the Packers in a difficult situation. They would undoubtedly love to keep him.

But Willis isn’t concerned about that. He is focused on potentially starting against the Lions this week, which is the Packers’ toughest test of the season so far.

And if we’ve learned anything from his performances to this point, don’t write him off.

 

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Done Deal: Packers trade star DL with Steelers in a shocking deal

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Done Deal: Packers trade star DL with Steelers in a shocking deal

The Green Bay Packers have traded DL Preston Smith (pending a physical) to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick. General Manager Brian Gutekunst announced the transaction Tuesday.

Smith has played in 91 games with 88 starts in the regular season since joining the Packers in 2019, posting a team-high 44.0 sacks over that span, which ranks No. 6 on Green Bay’s all-time list (since 1982). He started all nine games this season, recording 19 tackles (six solo), 2.5 sacks (tied for No. 2 on the team) and four QB hits (tied for No. 3 on the team), and is tied for No. 4 on the team with 11 NextGenStat QB pressures (TruMedia).

Smith was one of only two NFL players (T.J. Watt) to register 65-plus sacks (66), five-plus interceptions (five) and five-plus forced fumbles (nine) from 2015-23. He also appeared in seven postseason contests (all starts) for the Packers, registering 25 tackles (16 solo), 3.5 sacks, eight QB hits and three passes defensed.

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JUST IN: Chicago Bears sign a new head coach after….

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JUST IN: Chicago Bears sign a new head coach after….

Matt Eberflus’ job security as the Chicago Bears head coach is under serious scrutiny following another road loss to the Arizona Cardinals. With an 0-18 record in Sunday road games, a point differential of -181, and multiple fourth-quarter collapses in games where the Bears had a 91% win probability, his tenure has become hard to defend. It recently emerged that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was interested in the Bears’ head coaching position last offseason, though the team chose to retain Eberflus. Now, with Eberflus likely departing after this season, Johnson seems like a logical choice as his successor.

Ben Johnson Makes Perfect Sense as the Next Bears Head Coach

Ben Johnson’s Credentials Make Him a Compelling Choice for the Bears

Ben Johnson has been the driving force behind the Detroit Lions’ offensive resurgence. Under his leadership, the Lions’ offense became one of the NFL’s top units last season, finishing second in passing, third in total offense, and fifth in both rushing offense and points per game. This season, their offensive dominance continues. According to Lions’ Senior Writer Tim Twentyman, the Lions excel at protecting the ball, with just five turnovers in seven games (tied for the fourth fewest in the league). They rank seventh in both third-down conversions (42.9%) and red-zone efficiency (65.5%), efficiently extending drives and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. Twentyman describes it as “good offensive football.”

Credit also goes to General Manager Brad Holmes, who has constructed a roster with Pro Bowl-caliber players like Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Frank Ragnow, and Penei Sewell. While the Bears have offensive talent, they need a strategic play-caller like Johnson to maximize their potential and take their offense to the next level.

Focusing on the Development of Caleb Williams

The Bears have been mired in mediocrity for far too long, and a change is overdue. The main priority should be to ensure Caleb Williams’ development by pairing him with a skilled play-caller at head coach. Though Ben Johnson lacks head coaching experience, his performance as the Lions’ offensive coordinator has been stellar. If the Bears are serious about winning, they should do what it takes to bring Johnson on as head coach next season.

For GM Ryan Poles, the focus needs to be on reinforcing both the offensive and defensive lines in free agency and the draft. The Lions’ success on offense is no accident, as they arguably have the best offensive line in the NFL. Building a strong line to protect Caleb will be crucial for him to thrive and take strides toward becoming the Bears’ franchise quarterback.

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Infamous Packer key man Released by NFC Rival just now

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Infamous Packer key man Released by NFC Rival just now

Following a disappointing preseason, the Green Bay Packers made a surprising move by releasing second-year kicker Anders Carlson. Carlson had been competing intensely with veteran Greg Joseph during training camp.

In the end, though, neither kicker secured the spot, as the Packers opted for a different option, choosing Brayden Narveson instead.

Carlson, now 26, soon found a new chance, signing with the San Francisco 49ers last month. The 49ers, facing a shortage of healthy kickers after Jake Moody and Matthew Wright sustained injuries, were in urgent need of reinforcements.

Carlson was elevated twice from the 49ers’ practice squad, playing in Weeks 7 and 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys. In these appearances, he performed impressively, hitting 5-for-5 on field goals and 3-for-4 on extra points—a significant improvement from his preseason struggles with the Packers.

However, with Moody nearing a return from injury, Carlson will need to seek another opportunity.

Packers News: Anders Carlson Kicked to Curb by 49ers

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the 49ers have released former Green Bay kicker Anders Carlson from their practice squad, filling his spot with veteran safety Tashaun Gibson.

Despite the release, Carlson should have a good chance of finding another team soon, as he performed well in his two games with the 49ers. While Carlson struggled with longer kicks as a rookie in Green Bay, making just 7 of 13 attempts from beyond 40 yards, he showed improvement in San Francisco, hitting 4-for-4 from that range. Although it didn’t work out with the Packers, Carlson’s potential remains promising.

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