Jason Wilde

Jason Wilde joins Kyle and Brust to discuss Tucker Kraft practicing while still waiting on a contract extension that could make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid tight ends. Wilde says Kraft is taking a real risk because football contracts are one-way deals, and injuries during camp or practice can change everything before a player gets paid. He explains that Kraft appears to be trusting the Packers to take care of him, but Wilde personally would avoid full 11-on-11 work until the deal is done. Wilde also discusses Keisean Nixon’s “punished” comment and says the full nine-minute conversation matters, because Nixon also talked about competing, confidence and working his way up from the bottom in Green Bay. He adds that the Packers’ cornerback conversation is complicated because Jonathan Gannon wants corners who tackle, but building a roster with bigger, more physical corners can come with coverage tradeoffs.

Jason Wilde breaks down what mattered from the Packers’ preseason opener against the Steelers, starting with an encouraging night from kicker Trey Smack. He explains why simply getting Marshawn Lloyd and Jordan Love through the game healthy was important and examines Green Bay’s makeshift offensive-line rotation. Wilde discusses what the Packers were trying to evaluate during the first-team offense’s opening drive and why Smack’s 58-yard field goal mattered. He also reacts to Keisean Nixon’s ugly tackling effort and the scrutiny surrounding his place in the secondary. Meanwhile, Brandon Cisse continues to make a strong case for a significant role when the regular season arrives.

Jason Wilde joins Kyle Wallace and Bryan Bulaga to preview the Packers’ preseason opener against the Steelers and focuses on Green Bay’s biggest unresolved issue: the offensive line. Wilde says the Packers somehow have more questions up front than they had when camp opened, with Aaron Banks still limited, Anthony Belton no longer clearly locked in at right guard, Jacob Monk rising, and Jordan Morgan still needing meaningful reps. He and Bulaga discuss why Banks’ knee situation is concerning, especially because nagging camp injuries rarely disappear once the regular season begins. Wilde also wonders how much of Jonathan Gannon’s defense Matt LaFleur will allow the Packers to show, while noting that live-game communication could be valuable for a new coordinator and a young group. He adds that Aaron Rodgers is not expected to play for Pittsburgh, but the Rodgers-McCarthy reunion still gives the preseason matchup some extra history.

Jason Wilde joins Kyle and Brust to preview Packers-Steelers preseason night and says the offensive line and kicker Trey Smack deserve equal attention because they are Green Bay’s two biggest concerns. Wilde says the offensive line somehow has more questions than it did when camp opened, especially with Anthony Belton sliding away from the starting right guard job, Jacob Monk rising, and Aaron Banks still not getting enough team reps. He also agrees that Matt LaFleur’s choice not to signal whether camp kicks were good or no-good was soft because it made the rookie kicker seem like he needed protection. Wilde says Brandon Cissé and the cornerbacks are also worth watching once they face players who are not their own teammates. He closes by comparing Aaron Rodgers’ Packers departure to Brett Favre’s and says the Favre exit was far more contentious, even though Rodgers clearly still views his own ending in Green Bay as difficult.

Jason Wilde joins Jen, Homer and Joshy ahead of the Packers' preseason matchup with the Steelers and explains why he questions the value of putting Jordan Love and other established starters at risk. Wilde discusses uncertainty along the offensive line, including Aaron Banks' continued absence from 11-on-11 work. He also weighs in on whether Aaron Rodgers will suit up against his former team and why he would be surprised to see him play. Plus, Wilde breaks down the Packers' running back depth and why staying healthy is crucial for Marshawn Lloyd as he tries to establish a role in Green Bay's offense.