Packers DL Jordon Riley, CB Kamal Hadden Out For Season
Last night’s loss ensured the Packers will wind up as the seventh seed in the NFC. Their final regular season contest could see a number of players rested as a result, but at least two will not be able to return in 2025. 
Defensive lineman Jordon Riley was carted off the field Saturday with an Achilles injury. Cornerback Kamal Hadden later suffered an ankle injury and also needed to be taken off the field via a cart. Neither player returned to the loss against the Ravens.
When speaking to the media today, head coach Matt LaFleur said (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky) both Riley and Hadden are out for the rest of the year. Green Bay will be without a pair of depth contributors in the postseason as a result. Hadden is a pending exclusive rights restricted free agent, whereas Riley is under contract through 2026.
Riley spent the past two years with the Giants, but he was among the team’s final roster cuts. The 27-year-old was retained via the practice squad and remained there until early this month. Riley was signed to the Packers’ active roster to provide a rotational presence along the defensive front, and he wound up playing 53 snaps across four games with his new team. His attention will now turn to a lengthy rehab process presuming his injury proved to be an Achilles tear, though.
Like Riley, Hadden entered the league as a Day 3 draft pick. A Chiefs selection in 2024, each of his 12 regular season appearances have come as a member of the Packers. Hadden played sparingly this year on defense as part of Green Bay’s renovated secondary, but he chipped in on special teams with a snap share of 26% in that regard. He too will miss Week 18 as well as the Packers’ upcoming playoff game(s), however, and Hadden will look to heal in time for the spring.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/25
Here are today’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for the penultimate weekend of the regular season:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: LB Jay Higgins IV
Buffalo Bills
- Signed from practice squad: TE Keleki Latu
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley, DE Andre Jones Jr.
- Waived: WR Mecole Hardman Jr.
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: G Luke Newman
- Elevated: CB Dallis Flowers, WR JP Richardson
- Waived: DT Jonathan Ford
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross III, CB Bralyn Lux
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: TE Sal Cannella, QB Bailey Zappe
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: TE Drake Dabney, QB Clayton Tune
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from IR: WR Ashton Dulin
- Signed from practice squad: DT Chris Wormley
- Elevated: C Jimmy Morrissey, G Josh Sills
- Placed on IR: WR Anthony Gould, TE Andrew Ogletree
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: G Jerome Carvin, S Juan Thornhill
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from IR: OL Andrew Meyer
- Signed from practice squad: WR Theo Wease Jr.
- Placed on IR: WR Dee Eskridge, CB Isaiah Johnson, DT Benito Jones
- Elevated: LB Derrick McLendon, OL Josh Priebe
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Ronnie Bell, TE Treyton Welch
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: DE Elijah Chatman, C Bryan Hudson, S Raheem Layne, K Ben Sauls
- Elevated: TE Zach Davidson, RE Dante Miller
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: CB Tre Brown, G Marquis Hayes, WR Quentin Skinner
- Elevated: QB Hendon Hooker
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: CB Brandon Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: T Jack Driscoll, CB D’Shawn Jamison
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: LB Eric Kendricks, TE Brayden Willis
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, T Amari Kight
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: OLB Jason Pierre-Paul
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: CB Kemon Hall
- Placed on IR: CB Marcus Harris
With Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox both dealing with injuries, the Bills add Latu to the 53-man roster for depth. To make room, Buffalo has parted ways with the veteran, Hardman, just a week after activating him from injured reserve.
A number of players are being called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the third and final time on their current contracts. This is the case for Flowers in Chicago, Zappe in Cleveland, Sills in Indianapolis, Driscoll in Pittsburgh, and Kight in Seattle. If their respective teams wish to see them appear in another game this year, they will need to be signed to the 53-man roster, as was done with Wormley in Indianapolis and Chatman in New York this week after they exhausted their three elevations already this year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/26/25
Here are Friday’s minor moves and some standard gameday practice squad elevations for Saturday:
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated for return from IR: DT Sam Roberts
Denver Broncos
- Signed off Chargers’ practice squad: C Sam Mustipher
- Waived: G Calvin Throckmorton
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on IR: LB Kristian Welch
Houston Texans
- Signed from practice squad: S K’Von Wallace
- Elevated: DT Leki Fotu, G Sidy Sow
- Waived: CB Ameer Speed
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: T Foster Sarell, S Marcus Williams
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: TE Moliki Matavao
- Placed on IR: TE Foster Moreau
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: CB Kemon Hall
A day after placing starting center Luke Wattenberg on injured reserve and commending backup Alex Forsyth for starting in his place, Denver adds a bit more depth and experience at the position. Forsyth, a seventh-round pick out of Oregon last year, has only five starts in his first two years of play, but the team seemed to think he filled in well during yesterday’s victory of over the Chiefs. Mustipher, once a full-time starter in Chicago, should add depth and a potential starting option in case Forsyth’s inexperience starts to show.
Williams is being elevated for the third and final time by the Chargers this season. If Los Angeles wants to see him play in another game this season, they’ll need to sign the veteran safety to the 53-man roster.
Packers Rule Out Jordan Love For Week 17
Rather than Lamar Jackson–Jordan Love, Saturday’s Ravens-Packers matchup is likely to feature two backup quarterbacks. Jackson is doubtful, and the Packers ruled out Love due to the concussion he sustained last week. 
Malik Willis will start for Green Bay, with Tyler Huntley on track to face the Packers in a do-or-die matchup for the Ravens. This is not a short week for the Packers, who played last Saturday in Chicago, but Love is still going through the concussion protocol steps. Thus, Willis will make his first start of the season.
A hit from Bears defender Austin Booker concussed Love, leading to Willis reemerging for duty. The former Titans draftee played well, all things considered, as he did during an early-season 2024 cameo. Willis started two games last season. Despite being discarded by a new Titans staff in summer 2024 after struggles developing in Tennessee, Willis has found a home in Green Bay. Free agency interest is expected to come the former third-rounder’s way soon. Saturday will be key for the Liberty alum on that end.
By losing yesterday, the Lions have been officially eliminated from postseason contention. That has guaranteed at least a wild-card spot for the Packers, although first place in the NFC North is still within reach at this point. Whether or not that remains the case beyond this weekend will depend on Green Bay’s ability to win tomorrow. Love will likely be expected to return for the regular season finale (at least, if it is still meaningful for seeding purposes) but Willis will get at least one December start.
Willis, 26, has made five regular season starts in the NFL. Huntley, meanwhile, has led the Ravens’ offense on 11 total occasions between the regular season and playoffs. He also logged five starts last season for the Dolphins with Tua Tagovailoa sidelined. Huntley is a pending free agent, so his situation is similar to Willis’ in that regard.
A strong performance from either backup would go a long way in determining their market value. In any case, the Packers will hope Willis’ encouraging showings with his second career team can continue for another game and keep alive their chances of hosting a playoff game.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Malik Willis Expected To Draw FA Interest; Updates On Packers QB Injuries
Packers quarterback Malik Willis is expected to draw heavy free agent interest this offseason, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
The former Titans third-rounder did not show much in Tennessee, but he has found a grove in Green Bay over the last two years. Willis won both of his starts in 2024 and has generally played well when called upon. This year, he took a few snaps in Weeks 11 and 12 before an extended relief appearance last week after Jordan Love sustained a concussion. Willis completed eight of his 11 passes for 121 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions while adding 44 yards on the ground, though he could not lead a game-winning drive in overtime. The Packers offense has generally functioned smoothly with Willis under center.
That is why other teams will likely be interested this offseason. Willis himself may want a chance to compete for a starting job, which he will not get in Green Bay barring a significant injury to Love. A team looking for a quarterback could look to Willis as a bridge quarterback or reclamation project, perhaps to compete with a young passer for a starting job. Willis’ success in a McVay-style offense could be especially appealing to teams with similar offenses and/or a coach from McVay’s tree.
Unsurprisingly, the Packers would prefer to retain Willis as a high-end backup for exactly the situation that has come up this week. Love did not clear concussion protocol by the end of Green Bay’s practice week on Thursday, though he did progress though a few phases. He is also dealing with a left (non-throwing) shoulder injury and is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game. That positions Willis to start on Saturday against the Ravens, though he is dealing with a shoulder injury to his throwing arm as well as an illness. He is also listed as questionable, though he said earlier in the week (via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman) that he expects to play.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Several dominoes have fallen so far in Week 16 with respect to the NFL’s playoff picture. The Cowboys have been eliminated while the Patriots, Seahawks, Bears, Eagles and 49ers have locked in a postseason berth.
The final two weeks of the campaign will determine the remaining playoff spots, but they will also sort out the top of the draft order. Six teams remain within striking distance of the No. 1 pick, although the Titans’ win on Sunday greatly weakened their chances of landing the top selection for the second year in a row. One contest in particular will be worth monitoring next week with respect to draft positioning.
The Giants and Raiders each sport a record of 2-13. They will play each other in Week 17, meaning the loser of that contest will have the inside track for the No. 1 pick. New York already has a head coaching vacancy while Pete Carroll is in danger of going one-and-done in Vegas. Plenty of incentive for winning will exist for Carroll in particular, but the outcome of that game will have major implications on the draft order.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an updated look at the first-round order:
- New York Giants (2-13)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)
- Cleveland Browns (3-12)
- New York Jets (3-12)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
- Tennessee Titans (3-12)
- Washington Commanders (4-11)
- New Orleans Saints (5-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)
- Miami Dolphins (6-9)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
- Detroit Lions (8-7)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Carolina Panthers (8-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
- Houston Texans (10-5)
- Buffalo Bills (11-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
- Chicago Bears (11-4)
- New England Patriots (12-3)
- Denver Broncos (12-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/22/25
Today’s minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from reserve/PUP: DL Collin Oliver
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: WR Coleman Owen, G Josh Sills
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: CB Eli Apple, LB Eric Kendricks
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed from practice squad: S D’Anthony Bell
Collin Oliver may finally make his NFL debut at some point over the final two weeks of the season. The rookie fifth-round pick was sidelined for all of training camp and the preseason with a hamstring injury, and he ultimately landed on the physically unable to perform list to begin the season. He had his practice window opened earlier this month, and he’s apparently showed enough progress to earn a spot on the active roster. The Oklahoma State product finished his college career 23.5 sacks and 40.5 tackles for loss.
Packers TE John FitzPatrick Suffered Torn Achilles
John FitzPatrick‘s season has come to an end. The Packers announced today that they’ve placed their tight end on injured reserve.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, tests revealed that FitzPatrick suffered a torn Achilles during Saturday’s loss to the Bears. The tight end suffered the injury while blocking in the fourth quarter. He was carted to the sideline before exiting to the locker room.
This is a tough break for an injury-riddled Packers squad. The team was already down their starting TE in Tucker Kraft, who suffered a torn ACL in early November. FitzPatrick was arguably the main beneficiary of that injury, as he soaked up most of Kraft’s reps and occasionally outsnapped fellow tight end Luke Musgrave.
A former sixth-round pick by the Falcons, FitzPatrick joined the Packers last October. He was limited reps during his first season in Green Bay, but he’s seen a much larger role in 2025. In 15 games (four starts), the 25-year-old has hauled in 12 catches for 72 yards and one touchdown. However, he’s truly earned his playing time with his blocking prowess; Pro Football Focus ranks him 14th at his position for pass blocking and 20th in run blocking.
Musgrave will continue leading the depth chart for the time being, but the Packers will need to add an extra body to the roster in the coming days. Josh Whyle is currently sidelined with a concussion, so the team will surely turn to at least one of McCallan Castles or Drake Dabney from the practice squad.
The injury also comes at a poor time for FitzPatrick, who is hitting unrestricted free agency after this season. The Achilles injury will surely require a lengthy rehab, and there’s a chance he may not return to the field until late in the 2026 season.
Packers’ Jordan Love Suffers Concussion
Early in Saturday night’s game, Packers quarterback Jordan Love exited to be evaluated for a concussion. By the start of the second half, he had been ruled out for the remainder of the game. 
Backup Malik Willis has taken over quarterback duties, and that will remain the case the rest of the way. The Love news obviously marks a major blow to Green Bay in Week 16’s critical divisional matchup against Chicago. It could also have an impact beyond tonight’s contest, though.
It is rare for players to clear concussion protocol in time to play during the week immediately following a diagnosis. As a result, an absence of at least one game is commonplace. Presuming Love finds himself in the protocol, he will therefore be in serious danger of missing the Packers’ Week 17 game against the Ravens.
Green Bay entered Saturday as the NFC’s seventh seed with a record of 9-4-1. Chicago, meanwhile, came into the game leading the division at 10-4. With pole position in the NFC North down the stretch at stake, the Packers have now been dealt a notable blow on offense. Of course, this development comes just days after Micah Parsons tore his ACL. The blockbuster trade acquisition will not return in 2025, hindering Green Bay’s pass rush moving forward.
Love will face a much shorter timeline in his recovery. Still, the possibility of missing next week’s game will make for a major storyline over the coming days. Regardless of tonight’s outcome, the closing stages of the season will be critical in deciding Green Bay’s spot in the NFC playoff picture. Having Love available would be key, although Willis has generally flashed potential during his time with the Packers.
Acquired via trade last August, the former Titans draftee made seven appearances (including two starts) in 2024. Willis’ entrance into tonight’s game marks his third showing of the season. The 26-year-old is set to see his rookie contract expire this spring. As such, a strong performance while briefly atop the depth chart will help establish his value ahead of a free agent period set to be devoid of desirable veterans under center.
Love’s Green Bay future is far more certain. The 2020 first-rounder has a $55MM-per-year contract which runs through 2028. For the immediate term, though, it remains to be seen when he will be back in the lineup.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/25
Here are Friday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Jammie Robinson
- Placed on IR: WR KhaDarel Hodge
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: OL Chase Lundt
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: DT Kris Jenkins Jr.
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: DL Brenton Cox Jr.
- Placed on IR: RB MarShawn Lloyd (story)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Designated for return from IR: LB Jalen McLeod
Las Vegas Raiders
- Claimed off waivers (from Steelers): DT Brodric Martin
- Waived: DE Jahfari Harvey
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: K Charlie Smyth
- Placed on IR: WR Devaughn Vele
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: TE E.J. Jenkins, CB Brandon Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed from practice squad: S J.T. Gray
- Waived: LB Nick Jackson
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: TE Lawrence Cager
Cox will give the Packers another pass-rushing option after they lost superstar Micah Parsons to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 15. An undrafted pickup in 2023, Cox impressed last season with five tackles for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble in just seven games. However, he hasn’t factored in this year after suffering a groin injury in the Packers’ season-opening loss to the Lions. Now returning from a 13-game absence, Cox could have an opportunity to make an impact down the stretch.
Vele, a seventh-round pick a year ago, racked up 41 catches, 475 yards, and three touchdowns during a 13-game rookie season in Denver. The Broncos sold high on the 6-foot-5, 210-pounder in late August, shipping him to the Saints for a 2026 fourth-rounder and a 2027 seventh-rounder.
Vele, who’s now dealing with a shoulder injury, will wrap up his first season in New Orleans with 25 receptions, 293 yards, and two scores in 13 contests. While those are underwhelming numbers, Vele was far more productive in recent weeks. He combined for 19 grabs, 239 yards, and a TD in his last four games of the year.