Training camp is nearing its end, but the competition is still strong. The Packers are now through two preseason games with just one more to go. Green Bay hosts Arizona this week for a joint practice and their preseason finale. With two games under their belts now, plenty of guys are working their way into the conversation for those final roster spots.
Week 4's stock report is here. Same concept as previous weeks β players can raise or lower their stock any given day depending on how they perform. A few highlight plays, reps with the first-team offense or defense, praise from coaches and teammates β that's all stock rising. Demotions, shaky reps, mental errors β that's stock dropping. It's not a final verdict for anyone. It's just a check-in on how specific players are trending as training camp nears its end.
So here's where things stand for a few Packers right now β who's on the rise, and who's trending the wrong way.
Pierre Strong Jr.: Stock Rising π
There may not be roster room for a fourth running back when it's all said and done, but Pierre Strong Jr. is doing plenty to make his case. The fourth-year back has had a steady camp, and his best showing came Friday night in Denver. Strong led Green Bay's backfield with eight carries for 37 yards, but it wasn't just his offensive contributions that shined.
Every guy fighting for one of those last roster spots needs to contribute on special teams, and that might be Strong's biggest edge. He's lined up on punt and kick return, plus punt and kick coverage, this preseason. "Some coaches say you gotta be special players to play special teams," Strong said after the game. "Doing whatever Coach asks me to do and get on special teams, man. Because not everybody's good at special teams."
He opened the second quarter with one of the most electric plays of the night, taking a kickoff back 68 yards down to Denver's 32-yard line. "I knew once we made that one block I was gonna (get through)," Strong said confidently. "Open field, felt great. Just the kicker, make him miss. I gotta score, but it is what it is."
With Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, and Chris Brooks all locks for the roster, it's hard to know exactly where Strong fits. He was the top fill-in on both offense and special teams while Brooks was out, and his return ability adds another wrinkle. If Jacobs or Lloyd end up missing time for any reason, Strong would almost certainly slide into the third running back role. The bigger question is whether the Packers carry four backs at all, or whether a surprise cut is coming. Strong's making his case for the answer to be yes.
Tyrod Taylor: Stock Dropping π
After watching Malik Willis leave in free agency, the Packers knew they needed to shore up the backup quarterback spot. They did it by signing 16-year veteran Tyrod Taylor to a one-year, $2.5 million deal with $700,000 guaranteed. The moment he signed, he looked like a lock to be Green Bay's βQB2.β Through two preseason games, though, he's been underwhelming, to say the least.
Taylor went 4-for-8 for 21 yards and no touchdowns in his preseason debut. The following week, he went 4-for-8 again, but for just 17 yards. PFF gave him grades of 44.9 and 56.7 β both well below average. Meanwhile, Kyle McCord, his main competition, has gone 24-for-35 for 220 yards over that same stretch. The eye test might be even worse β Taylor's holding the ball too long, many of the incompletions haven't even been competitive throws, and he's taking unnecessary hits when he scrambles. Simply put, he hasn't looked comfortable β not what you'd expect from a 16-year veteran.
To be fair, the Packers didn't sign Taylor to tear up the preseason against a bunch of second-stringers. He's not Malik Willis, and he was never going to suddenly become him. Taylor is what he is at this point β an experienced journeyman who can hopefully keep the offense operational if he has to step in unexpectedly. Will he still be the backup when the regular season starts? Probably. But getting outplayed by McCord all preseason isn't exactly a comforting sign heading in.
Kamal Hadden: Stock Rising π
What a rollercoaster of a year it's been for Kamal Hadden. After spending his rookie season on the practice squad, the young cornerback made the roster last summer. He didn't see much action through 2025, but his first real opportunity came in Week 17 against Baltimore. Hadden was set to take over for Carrington Valentine at halftime β and on the very first play of the second half, he suffered a broken tibia, broken fibula, and dislocated ankle. His season ended, just like that.
Given the severity of the injury, there were legitimate questions about whether Hadden would be ready for the start of the 2026 season. He opened camp on the PUP list, and it was clear the team wasn't going to rush him back β even though he was sprinting down the sideline to celebrate on one of the first days of camp. He didn't have to wait long, though β the Packers activated him on August 2nd. And since coming back, Hadden might be playing the best football of his career.
Packers CB Kamal Hadden broke his tibia and fibula and dislocated his ankle in Week 17 last season. Heβs now taking first-team reps with Javon Bullard out and had an INT today. Told us recently he wanted a picture with all the trainers who helped him. Here that is: pic.twitter.com/CDwhaGd4KB
β Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) August 20, 2026
His role was a bit of a question mark before he returned. Brandon Cisse, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, and Benjamin St-Juste were taking all of the outside cornerback reps with the first- and second-team defense, so the Packers moved Hadden inside to play nickel. "He'll throw his face in the fire a little bit," LaFleur said. "That's what you need at that position." Since making that move, Hadden's thrived.
Haddenβs preseason debut came Friday night in Denver β he played 21 snaps, all in the slot, and he definitely made the most of them. He showcased excellent tackling and strong coverage, recording multiple tackles for loss and allowing just two catches for four yards through the air. "It's been fun to watch his growth, obviously as a player, but as a person," LaFleur said after the game. "How he prepares β he comes in with a great attitude, he's extremely coachable. It's really cool to see it come to fruition, in terms of his ability to go out and make plays." It was a devastating injury and a grueling rehab, but Hadden hasn't just fought his way back into the competition β he's made the team.
Dani Dennis-Sutton: Stock Dropping π
Rookies just can't afford to miss time β and that's the problem with Dani Dennis-Sutton. The fourth-round pick started camp healthy and ready to go, but he left practice early on August 10 due to what the team called an "illness," and has missed multiple practices and games since. LaFleur later explained: "He overheated at practice, so obviously you take that very seriously, and he's working through the protocol to come back."
The Packers need all the pass-rush help they can get with Micah Parsons out for the first month of the season, and Dennis-Sutton was expected to help fill that void. The team was hoping to maximize Dennis-Suttonβs versatility by lining him up all over β on the edge and inside on the interior of the defensive line. Unfortunately, the heat-related illness forced the team to put those plans on hold.
He'll still have a roster spot, and the Packers will still look for ways to get him involved despite the missed time. But he hasn't seen any game action yet, and that's not doing him any favors. There is a silver lining β he returned to practice last week, even if it was just individual drills. Still, between the missed game reps and the missed team reps in practice, his stock isn't trending the way anyone hoped.
Cal Adomitis: Stock Rising π
It'd be easy to list Trey Smack again after another strong outing in Denver, but let's look beneath the hood at part of his operation instead β his long snapper. Cal Adomitis signed with the Packers after Matt Orzech was forced to open camp on the PUP list. Joining a team once camp's already underway isn't usually a recipe for sticking around, but Adomitis has made the most of his shot with Orzech sidelined.
Most people probably assumed Adomitis was just keeping Orzech's seat warm β and that once Orzech was healthy enough to practice, Adomitis would be released. That's exactly what happened to him in Philadelphia last season. But he's not approaching it that way this time. "I certainly believe if I play the way I'm capable of playing, then I give them a tough decision, which is my goal," Adomitis said earlier this preseason.
"I certainly do believe in my ability to come in and compete, and in a week or two, maybe make the special teams staff have to make a difficult decision," he added. And that's exactly what he's done. The field goal operation has really found its groove β Trey Smack is now 14-for-15 kicking in stadiums this preseason, which wouldnβt happen with a shaky operation. Both Adomitis and holder Daniel Whelan have been steady all camp, helping Smack settle in nicely.
If and when Orzech returns to practice, Adomitis isn't going anywhere β at least not yet. The operation is humming, and the front office would be foolish to mess with that right now. Eventually they'll have to settle on one snapper, and it's shaping up to be a genuinely tough call for LaFleur and Gutekunst. "Cal's done a heck of a job," LaFleur said. "But I think we know what Matt brings to the table as well."
Matt Orzech: Stock Dropping π
Despite signing a three-year extension last August, Matt Orzech's stock keeps dropping a little more each day. The 31-year-old long snapper hasn't done anything wrong β he just hasn't been healthy. He opened camp on the PUP list with a calf injury and still hasn't been cleared to practice. As long as he's on the shelf, his stock keeps dropping.
On the bright side, Brian Gutekunst suggested Orzech's return could be coming this week. "Hopefully, we can get Matt Orzech back here in a week or so," he said. Orzech will almost certainly have a shot to earn his job back, which Cam Achord reiterated on Saturday when asked about the position battle. "I don't put too much into that part of it, because Matt is a pro," Achord said when asked if Smack's success played a factor. "It's not like you're going back to a guy that's never done it before. He's obviously a quality guy. Cal has done a great job too. I think both guys are going to be fine."
The Packers clearly value Orzech β they made him one of the highest-paid long snappers in football last summer, at $1.61 million per year on average. But Adomitis is younger, cheaper, has experience snapping in outdoor weather, and already has good chemistry with the rookie kicker. If Green Bay decided to move on, they'd only eat about $500,000 in dead cap while saving $1.315 million. When it's all said and done, Orzech might still be the guy β but right now, it's at least a conversation, especially with the field goal operation clicking with Adomitis snapping.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Carter Semb is a lifelong Packer fan, shareholder, and season ticket holder. He is a contributor for Cheesehead TV and Packers Talk. For commentary surrounding Wisconsin sports, he can be found on X at @cmsemb.