Paul Bretl | 8/24/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — With roster cuts looming and the regular season on the horizon, Week 3 of the preseason can get lost in the shuffle. However, for many players, it’s the final opportunity to leave a lasting impression.
For Packers’ cornerback Kamal Hadden, he was able to do that–now the question becomes, was it enough?
“I think I just put on the tape a guy that can come in and play and compete,” Hadden said of his training camp performance after Saturday’s game. “A guy that works his tail off and a young guy that can come in and it’s not a dip, a guy that can come in and hold his own and do whatever he need to do for the team. So hopefully that’s what they seen, too.”
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For much of the summer, Hadden got steady work with the Packers’ second team defense. Oftentimes, when the defense was in nickel, it was Bo Melton and Hadden outside, with Kalen King in the slot.
However, a hip injury would derail the momentum that Hadden had established early on as he was forced to miss time. He missed the Packers’ first preseason game and then struggled in his return a week ago against Indianapolis.
While Hadden would make seven total tackles in that contest, he allowed four receptions on five targets for 71 yards. That’s an average of 17.8 yards per catch. Hadden was also penalized once.
“I just think kinda got my feet wet a little bit last week,” Hadden said. “I didn’t play as good as I wanted to, not even this week, but it just come with reps, man. The more reps I get, I feel like the more consistent I could be when I’m out there and when I’m actually practicing. So the injury just kinda set me back a little bit, but once I got right, I got my feet back under me then I’m back to doing what I usually do.”
With more of those reps under his belt, this week was a different story for Hadden, and that doesn’t only include his performance in Saturday’s game, but he also impressed during the joint practice, which included a pair of pass breakups during the team periods and another in the one-on-ones.
Then in the game, Hadden had sticky coverage on a downfield throw by Jalen Milroe in the first half and came away with two more pass breakups early on in the second half. However, if you ask Hadden, he should have had an interception on Saturday.
“It was just trusting my preparation, trusting what the coaches say and the game plan and just really believing in myself and just like I said, the reps” said Hadden of his play on Saturday. “Once you not out there, at this level, the best thing you can get is reps, so I got more reps and then I was more confident and be able to do my job when I’m out there.
“So I just feel like I bounced back alright, but I could be much better intercepting, take away some of those balls today.”
Hadden was a late addition last offseason for the Packers. A sixth-round draft pick by Kansas City in 2024 out of Tennessee, Hadden was released by the Chiefs during roster cutdowns and joined the Packers’ practice squad. He appeared in two games during Weeks 4 and 9, playing seven total special teams snaps.
Hadden navigated injuries during his final collegiate season at Tennessee, appearing in only seven games. However, in those contests, he showcased his coverage abilities and ball skills, allowing a completion rate of just 36.4%, according to PFF, and just 8.0 yards per catch with three interceptions and six pass breakups.
The work that comes with being an NFL player never truly stops. But for a brief moment, until Tuesday’s roster cutdown deadline passes, things can feel like they are at a standstill while Hadden and a number of other Packers players sit in wait-and-see mode.
For Hadden, he will do his best to stay busy. The Packers will get together on Sunday to review Saturday’s game, have a team meeting, and work out. Whatever the outcome ends up being, Hadden is comfortable and confident with what he put on tape this summer.
“We got practice,” Hadden said of how he’ll spend the next few days. “We got stuff, we got workouts tomorrow, stuff like that, so just leaving that up to whoever’s job that is to do and i think I did everything I could this camp to showcase my talents and whatever happens, ready to work Tuesday, wherever I’m at, whatever happens.”