The Green Bay Packers endured a nightmarish run of injuries on December 27, 2025, as they faced the Baltimore Ravens in a Week 17 clash at Lambeau Field. What began as a highly anticipated Saturday night showdown quickly devolved into a test of depth and resilience for Matt LaFleur’s squad, with a staggering six Packers ruled out by the final whistle. The Ravens ultimately claimed a 41-24 victory, but the real story for Green Bay was the grim procession of players heading to the locker room.
The list of casualties began early and grew steadily throughout the game. In the first half alone, four Packers were sidelined: defensive tackle Jordon Riley exited after suffering an Achilles injury on the second of Derrick Henry’s three first-half touchdown runs; cornerback Nate Hobbs was lost to a knee injury after breaking up a third-down pass in the end zone; safety and special teams contributor Zayne Anderson was carted off with an ankle injury; and wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks was ruled out with a concussion after heading to the training room late in the half. None of these players were starters, but each played a key role on a roster already stretched thin by previous injuries.
The situation only worsened after halftime. On the Packers’ first defensive snap of the second half, backup cornerback Kamal Hadden—already filling in for the injured Hobbs—went down while tackling Derrick Henry after a short gain. The scene was somber as Hadden, his head bowed and hands over his facemask, was placed in a vacuum splint and carted off the field. Packers players, including Evan Williams and Javon Bullard, gathered in prayer for their fallen teammate, underscoring the gravity of the moment. Hadden was immediately ruled out with a left ankle injury, and, as later confirmed by video and social media reports, the injury was season-ending.
Hadden’s journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. A sixth-round draft pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024, he was cut at the end of training camp before being signed by the Packers prior to the 2024 season. He spent much of that year on the practice squad, but 2025 saw him active for 10 games, recording five tackles—four of them coming in a standout performance during Green Bay’s Week 12 win over the Minnesota Vikings. On Saturday night, Hadden’s willingness to step up in a depleted secondary was evident, but fate had other plans.
By the time the dust settled, the Packers’ injury report read like a who’s who of their depth chart. Alongside Hadden, Riley, Hobbs, Anderson, and Wicks, quarterback Malik Willis also left the game after aggravating a right shoulder injury on a completion to Christian Watson. Willis was listed as questionable to return but did not re-enter the contest. The quarterback situation was already dire, with starter Jordan Love sidelined due to a concussion suffered the previous week in Chicago. The offensive line wasn’t spared either, as starting right tackle Zach Tom missed the game with back and knee issues.
“We came in shorthanded and it just kept getting worse,” one Packers player was overheard saying on the sideline, echoing the sentiments of fans and coaches alike. The team’s injured reserve list already included big names like Micah Parsons, Tucker Kraft, Devonte Wyatt, Elgton Jenkins, Nick Niemann, John FitzPatrick, and Kristian Welch. With so many absences, Green Bay was forced to rely on reserves and practice squad call-ups to fill key roles against a surging Ravens offense.
The impact of these injuries was evident on the field. By halftime, the Ravens had built a 27-14 lead, with Derrick Henry powering through for three touchdowns in the opening two quarters. The Packers’ defense, already reeling from the loss of Riley and Hobbs, struggled to contain Baltimore’s relentless ground game and dynamic passing attack. The secondary, now featuring Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Bo Melton, and Javon Bullard as the only healthy cornerbacks, was stretched to its limits. The absence of Wicks further hampered an offense searching for answers without its starting quarterback.
Despite the adversity, Green Bay fought valiantly. Malik Willis, before his exit, managed to engineer a scoring drive, connecting with Christian Watson and keeping the Packers within striking distance. Yet, each time momentum seemed to swing in their favor, another injury setback would sap the team’s energy and options. The Ravens capitalized, pulling away in the second half to secure a commanding 41-24 victory.
For the Packers, the loss was more than just another entry in the standings. It was a harsh reminder of the unforgiving nature of the NFL season, where depth is tested and fortunes can change in the blink of an eye. The sheer number of injuries—six in a single game, with several potentially season-ending—left coaches scrambling to adjust game plans and rotations on the fly.
The emotional toll was just as significant. The sight of Kamal Hadden being carted off, with teammates gathering in support, resonated well beyond the field. “You hate to see it, especially for a guy like Kamal who’s worked so hard to get here,” one of the Packers’ defensive leaders remarked postgame. The team’s unity in the face of adversity was clear, but so too was the challenge that lay ahead.
Looking forward, the Packers’ medical staff faces a daunting task in assessing and rehabilitating a growing list of injured players. With playoff hopes hanging by a thread and another game looming, Matt LaFleur and his staff must rally the remaining healthy members of the roster and hope for reinforcements to return in time. The status of Malik Willis, in particular, will be closely monitored as the team evaluates its quarterback options for the final stretch of the season.
For now, Green Bay’s focus shifts to recovery and regrouping. The Week 17 defeat to Baltimore will be remembered not just for the scoreboard, but for the resilience shown in the face of overwhelming adversity. As the Packers look to salvage what remains of their season, the hope is that the worst is behind them—and that the next man up is ready to answer the call.
