Tag: kamal hadden

Packers elevate CB Kamal Hadden from practice squad for Week 9 vs. Lions

The Packers elevated CB Kamal Hadden from the practice squad for Week 9 against the Lions.

The Green Bay Packers elevated cornerback Kamal Hadden from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Week 9. The move was announced Saturday, making Hadden available for Matt LaFleur and the Packers for Sunday’s showdown with the Detroit Lions.

The Packers likely need help at cornerback with Jaire Alexander (knee) and Corey Ballentine (ankle) both questionable to play. Alexander didn’t practice all week, while Ballentine didn’t play last week. Hadden’s elevation could mean Alexander isn’t going to be ready to play against the Lions.

Also of note: the Packers did not elevate quarterback Sean Clifford, another sign that starter Jordan Love is good to go for Sunday.

Veteran Robert Rochell is out of elevations from the practice squad, forcing the Packers to bring up Hadden, a rookie out of Tennessee.

This is Hadden’s second elevation. He played three snaps on special teams after being elevated to the gameday roster in Week 4.

Hadden was a sixth-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 draft. He was waived by the Chiefs at final cuts and signed to the Packers’ practice squad on Aug. 30.

All teams are allowed to elevate up to two players from the practice squad each week. An individual player can only be elevated from the practice squad three times per season, so Hadden has one elevation left. On Monday, Hadden will revert to the practice squad.

The Packers have elevated at least one player during each of the first nine weeks in 2024.

Elevations by week

Week 1: RB Ellis Merriweather
Week 2: QB Sean Clifford
Week 3: QB Sean Clifford, CB Robert Rochell
Week 4: CB Robert Rochell, CB Kamal Hadden
Week 5: FB Andrew Beck
Week 6: FB Andrew Beck
Week 7: FB Andrew Beck
Week 8: CB Robert Rochell
Week 9: CB Kamal Hadden

Chiefs vs. Bears: Rising rookie recovers fumble in fourth quarter

Check out this video of #Chiefs rookie Kamal Hadden recovering a fumble in Kansas City’s preseason finale against the #Bears on Thursday night

The Kansas City Chiefs faced an uphill battle against the Chicago Bears in their preseason finale on Thursday night but got a lifeline in the fourth quarter of the matchup when rookie defensive back Kamal Hadden recovered a fumble and returned it for significant yardage.

The play was started when Tyree Gillespie knocked the ball free after a reception by John Jackson. When Hadden made the recovery, he sprinted down the field before being pushed out of bounds by Bears receiver Velus Jones Jr., who prevented the rookie from scoring a touchdown.

Check out this video of the play, which was posted to Twitter by the Chiefs’ official account:

Hadden struggled to make his presence felt during Kansas City’s previous preseason exhibitions but put his mark on this game with this exceptional defensive effort.

Stay tuned to see if Hadden makes the Chiefs’ 53-man roster next week when Andy Reid and Brett Veach make their cuts for the 2024 season.

Chiefs DB Kamal Hadden on returning from injury: ‘I feel like I am back’

Chiefs DB Kamal Hadden on returning from injury: ‘I feel like I am back’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ late-round selections in recent NFL Drafts have proven fruitful.

Chiefs rookie defensive back Kamal Hadden had his college career ended earlier than expected following a shoulder injury last fall. He addressed the status of his surgically repaired shoulder to reporters on Friday.

“I feel back when I feel like I’m back. “said Hadden. “It’s really good to be back on the field. I feel like I’m more faster, I feel like I’m stronger, and mainly, I feel like I’m smarter, so that just the game took me out, but it helped me grow mentally and helped me grow as a man and as a player.”

Hadden was a sixth-round selection in this year’s NFL Draft. He finished his last year at Tennessee with 19 tackles, three interceptions, and a touchdown in a shortened year. As training camp begins, he has developed a close connection with a Chiefs teammate.

“Me and Nic Jones are from Michigan, so I train with him a lot. And, just asking him questions every day when we train, bouncing things off of him while we are training, and asking him any little things to help me help a rookie come in,” said Hadden. “Because he was also a rookie, I just asked him little things like that every day while we trained. “

Harden will compete in camp to join the talented Chiefs’ defensive secondary unit.

Kamal Hadden explains familiarity with Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo

#Chiefs DB Kamal Hadden told reporters about his familiarity with Steve Spagnuolo during comments to the media at rookie minicamp.

Over the last few years, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach and the team’s scouting department have shown a knack for identifying talented cornerbacks who are available late in the draft.

The Chiefs hope to stay hot in that regard, and their sixth-round selection of Kamal Hadden was their latest low-risk gamble on an impressive defensive back. The 23-year-old was underrated due to his injury history but was exceptionally productive during his time in Tennessee.

Hadden addressed the media after practice at rookie minicamp on Sunday, telling reporters that he already has some ties to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

“He can really recruit, and he can see talent, even in the late rounds,” Hadden explained. “He can go get guys, he can develop guys and that was one thing that I met on my [top] 30 visit, it was just a connection there, I knew him, he worked through my [defensive coordinator] at Tennessee [Tim Banks] before. It was a great thing and it’s a great opportunity to go in there and fill those shoes and go out there and be able to play under a coach like Coach Spags.”

Hadden posted a 90.4 grade according to Pro Football Focus last season and held opposing quarterbacks to a miserable 7.0 passer rating when targeted in 2023. Despite dealing with injuries, the Tennessee product will bring experience and talent to an already impressive group of defensive backs.

ESPN analyst Louis Riddick: ‘Chiefs secondary got younger and better’

ESPN analyst Louis Riddick took to Twitter to express his confidence in the #Chiefs’ new-look secondary.

The Kansas City Chiefs secondary was one of the NFL’s best last season, and despite the team’s decision to trade star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed in March, one analyst seems to think that the reigning Super Bowl champions made their defensive backfield even better in the 2024 NFL draft.

ESPN’s Louis Riddick took to Twitter on Friday to tell his followers that he believes the unit has improved over the course of the offseason while getting younger in the process.

Though he didn’t go into depth about this take, Riddick, a former NFL safety, is more than qualified to assess how teams construct their rosters.

The Chiefs’ selections of defensive backs Jaden Hicks and Kamal Hadden in the 2024 NFL draft are sure to have moved the needle for Riddick, especially given that Kansas City managed to pick them in the fourth and sixth rounds.

While there is always room for a roster to improve, Riddick’s confidence in the Chiefs’ secondary should inspire confidence in Kansas City’s fans.

Tennessee football releases bizarre Lego animation of Chiefs DB Kamal Hadden, OL Trey Smith

The Tennessee Volunteers football program tweeted out a bizarre Lego animation of #Chiefs rookie Kamal Hadden on Thursday.

Football fans across the country are hunkering down for the slowest part of the NFL’s offseason, but the Kansas City Chiefs are doing their best to stay in their minds.

On Thursday, the reigning Super Bowl champions got a little help in that regard from the University of Tennessee Volunteers football program, which Tweeted out a bizarre stop-motion animation of Chiefs rookie Kamal Hadden and Trey Smith made of Legos.

Hadden and Smith are Tennessee products, so a shoutout wasn’t totally unexpected, but the execution of this latest bit by the Volunteers seemed to have come a little out of left field.

Dubbed “Brick-Six” the video shows Hadden intercepting a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders while in uniform for Kansas City. Smith, who plays on the Chiefs’ offense, can be seen celebrating the play, ostensibly from the sideline.

This creative display is sure to stick with Kansas City’s fans for months while they await the start of training camp.

PFF: Chiefs sixth-round pick Kamal Hadden earned 90.4 coverage grade in 2023

#Chiefs DB Kamal Hadden earned a 90.4 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus last season.

The Kansas City Chiefs waited until Day 3 of the 2024 NFL draft to select prospects for their defense, and seem to have found a gem in their sixth-round pick Kamal Hadden.

An experienced defensive back who was exceptionally productive as a collegian, Hadden earned a 90.4 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus last season and held opposing quarterbacks to a measly 7.0 passer rating when targeted.

In three seasons as a Volunteer, Hadden tallied six interceptions, 5.5 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles.

Though he missed some time due to injuries, Hadden’s production and raw ability made him one of the most valuable selections of the sixth round.

Kansas City needed to add a capable body to its secondary after trading star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed earlier in the offseason. The Chiefs may have found their replacement for him with this rookie, who is now primed to bring his ball-hawking skillset to the gridiron in Kansas City.

2024 NFL draft: Chiefs take Tennessee CB Kamal Hadden with pick No. 211

With pick No. 211 in the 2024 NFL draft, the Kansas City #Chiefs selected Tennessee CB Kamal Hadden

The Kansas City Chiefs finally addressed their defense with the No. 211 selection in the 2024 NFL draft, picking up Tennessee Volunteers cornerback Kamal Hadden.

The departure of L’Jarius Sneed at the start of the offseason created a vacancy at cornerback on Kansas City’s depth chart. On Saturday, the Chiefs filled that space with a promising young prospect, which may force their current crop of defensive backs to adjust their roles heading into 2024.

As a senior in 2023, Hadden started the first seven games of the season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. He tallied 19 tackles, three interceptions, and a touchdown in a shortened year.

This selection signals that general manager Brett Veach is emphasizing the importance of creating takeaways on defense.

As Kansas City continues to prepare for their title defense in 2024, Veach has done his best to ensure that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have plenty of weapons in the secondary next season.

Kamal Hadden selected by Kansas City in 2024 NFL draft

Tennessee cornerback Kamal Hadden selected in the sixth-round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The 2024 NFL draft is taking place Thursday-Saturday around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan.

Former Tennessee cornerback Kamal Hadden was selected by Kansas City in the sixth round (No. 211 overall) on Saturday.

Hadden appeared in 23 games for the Vols from 2021-23. He recorded six interceptions, one touchdown, 87 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, 18 pass deflections and two forced fumbles.

Hadden’s Tennessee career ended prematurely after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery after the Vols’ loss at Alabama on Oct. 26, 2023.

The 6-foot-1, 197-pound defensive back transferred to Tennessee from Independence Community College. He originally signed to play for Auburn.

Hadden is also from River Rouge High School in River Rouge, Michigan.

READ: 2024 NFL draft pick-by-pick analysis

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

NFL draft bio for defensive back Kamal Hadden

Tennessee defensive back Kamal Hadden is a projected pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

The 2024 NFL draft will take place Thursday-Saturday around Campus Maritus Park in Detroit, Michigan.

Tennessee defensive back Kamal Hadden is projected as a 2024 NFL draft pick.

Hadden played for the Vols from 2021-23 after transferring from Independence Community College and originally signing with Auburn.

During his final season at Tennessee, he was tied for a team lead in interceptions (3) and returned one interception for a touchdown.

Hadden started seven games last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. He also led Tennessee in pass deflections and recorded 19 tackles, including 13 solo tackles.

In 2022, Hadden appeared in nine games and made six starts. He recorded 51 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, three pass deflections, two quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery.

As a redshirt sophomore in 2021, he played in seven games and made two starts, recording 17 tackles, two tackles for a loss and one interception.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire