Paul Bretl | 8/23/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Just like that, training camp and the preseason are now behind us. Next up for the Packers and the rest of the NFL are cutdowns as teams trim their rosters from 90 players down to 53.
The third preseason game can easily get lost in the shuffle with roster cuts looming and the regular season on the horizon. But for many players on the Packers roster and across the league, this third preseason game is one last opportunity to make a lasting impression and push for the 53-man or the practice squad.
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“It’s in the back of your head,” Micah Robinson said of the third preseason game. “But at the end of the day, the third game is just another game. You’re going out there every week with the same mindset and everything else will take care of itself. You kinda just gotta control the controllables, go out there and do your job and make plays.”
Naturally, during this time of the year, the focus is on the positional battles, whether those competitions be for playing time or roster spots. But the reality is that on every team, the vast majority of the roster spots on the 53-man are accounted for before any final decisions have to be made.
One of the players who finds himself on the cusp of a roster spot is cornerback Kamal Hadden. An injury in the middle of training camp stalled Hadden’s momentum. He then struggled in last week’s game against the Colts.
However, Hadden rebounded by performing at a high level in the Packers’ joint practice against Seattle and then again in the preseason finale, forcing two pass deflections.
If the old saying, “the last impression is the lasting impression,” is true in the football world, then Hadden has positioned himself well.
“I think it was real important,” Hadden said of his play against Seattle. “Last week, I didn’t play as good as I wanted to, just little things, so it was just about coming back and showing what I already showed flashes of in practice and the main thing with them (the coaching staff) was just showing my consistency, letting everybody see it. It showed at times, but just going out there and being consistent and showing you can do it at a high level. So it was big.”
Linebacker Kristian Welch is in similar shoes. Potentially, it is him vs. Isaiah Simmons for the final roster spot at linebacker. As he does, Welch has provided a reliable presence throughout training camp. He can impact a variety of different special teams phases and can step in and play any one of the three linebacker positions.
Welch finished Saturday’s game with four tackles, three of which were solo with one being for a loss.
A year ago at this time, Welch found himself in a similar situation, but was ultimately released on cutdown day before he landed with Denver.
“It would mean a lot,” Welch said of making the roster this time. “I worked really hard. It’s a business, at the end of the day, and I’ve been in it long enough to understand that part of it. Yeah, it would mean a lot. That’s certainly been the goal. To achieve it would be a good feeling.”
In a Packers’ offensive line room that is full of draft picks, Donovan Jennings is trying to carve out a roster spot as a second-year UDFA.
Jennings has showcased his versatility this summer, which includes playing center for the first time during practices, along with lining up at right guard after spending his college career on the left side at tackle. While he has had his ups and downs at times, in each preseason game, Jennings has improved.
And of note, he didn’t play during the second half of the Seattle game, which could be viewed as a good sign for his roster chances.
“It would mean a lot,” Jennings said of making the team. “It would mean a lot to me personally, my family, all the hard work and dedication I’ve put in. That’s all I’ve wanted this whole time was to make this team and contribute in any way that I can.”
Others who find themselves in similar spots include Kalen King, Malik Heath, Mecole Hardman, Arron Mosby, and others.
As difficult as training camps can be, the next 72 hours may be the most challenging part of this process as these roster hopefuls wait around for Tuesday’s deadline and the final decisions to be made.
Matt LaFleur said that, depending on how the team is feeling health-wise, they will get together on Sunday to review, have a team meeting and a workout. Monday will be like an in-season Tuesday, which is typically an off-day around the NFL, and then the actual Tuesday is cut day.
“Really just try to not really think about it, honestly,” Jennings said. “Just try to keep my head focused and move onto the next 24 hours and whatever lies ahead.”