Kamal Hadden’s Performance Crushes Nate Hobbs’ Starting Role, Injury Recovery Irrelevant
After a quick turnaround on a short week, the Green Bay Packers begin the toughest part of their schedule in the final stretch of the season. Starting with Thanksgiving clash against the Lions, the Packers play four of their final six games on the road, all against likely playoff teams except for the Vikings. This stretch will determine their placement in the NFC North and postseason race. If they are going to take the lead in the division, it will be on the back of their impressive defense. The offense remains inconsistent, but the Packers have established themselves as one of the best defenses in the league.
Nevertheless, questions persist about certain areas of the defense. The cornerback rotation has underperformed all season, only to be saved by Carrington Valentine's emergence in recent weeks. To make matters worse, Keisean Nixon exited Week 12 early with a stinger. He was listed as a DNP in Monday's estimated injury report, putting his status for Thursday in jeopardy.
This raises questions about who should get the start in Nixon's absence. Nate Hobbs, who has been a source of disappointment all season, was listed as a limited participant on Monday after missing the last three weeks with a knee injury. He should presumably be the favorite to start if Nixon can't go, but this would be a mistake. Kamal Hadden more than earned the right to make his first career start after impressing in his 31 defensive snaps against the Vikings.
Kamal Hadden Should Get the Start in Keisean Nixon's Absence
At this point in the season, Hobbs is a known commodity. He struggles on the outside and isn't 100% physically. He will be coming back from an injury and provides low upside.
Hadden, on the other hand, has some untapped potential. Since signing in Green Bay before last season, Hadden has exclusively been used as a practice squad member and a special teamer. In Week 12, he got his first defensive snaps and held his own. Not only did he receive a decent 62.3 defensive grade on Pro Football Focus, but he also impressed by not backing down against Justin Jefferson in a sequence highlighted on X by Daire Carragher of Pro Football Focus.
After an obvious holding call goes uncalled on Jefferson, Hadden is visibly pissed. On the very next snap, he goes right at Jefferson and clamps him up.
This was the latest example of the brief flashes Hadden has shown in the limited opportunities he has had in his career. In the preseason finale against the Seahawks, he had an excellent game, not allowing any catches in five targets in coverage. That may have earned him a spot on the 53-man roster, and the performance against the Vikings may finally earn him a role in the league.
Celtics’ Latest Injury Scare Reveals a Major Truth
The Boston Celtics needed a response after a frustrating week, and they found one against the Orlando Magic. They played faster, leaned on smaller lineups, and controlled the game for long stretches. But the performance came with a moment that has lingered long after the final buzzer.
Neemias Queta rolled his left ankle early in the first quarter and never returned. He was ruled questionable at the time, but with no further update yet, it’s only natural that Celtics fans are starting to wonder what comes next.
Queta wasn’t supposed to be this important this early. Yet Boston has quietly leaned on him in ways few predicted.
And if he misses time, the Celtics might be facing a bigger question than expected.
The Celtics’ net rating this season, based on which big(s) is on the floor:
Why Queta’s Rise Has Started to Matter for the Celtics
The Celtics entered the season with a frontcourt built on role players learning on the fly, following the key departures of
His numbers tell the story.
Queta is averaging 9.3 points and 7.9 rebounds in 24.8 minutes. He’s shooting over 61 percent from the field. His defensive rating of 100.2 ranks third-best in the entire NBA
He’s protecting the rim, finishing plays, cleaning up the glass and making quicker reads in the short roll than at any point in his career. His assist rate is at a career high. None of it is flashy, but all of it helps the Celtics look more like a functioning unit when he’s out there.
It wasn’t the best game of his career, but last night was the most intense effort I’ve seen from Neemias Queta. Kept battling though foul trouble, mistakes. Gave #Celtics 11 mins., 6 pts, 4 reb in 4Q.
Revelation for the C’s. It’s unreal how good he’s been to begin this year.
Why His Absence Would Shift Boston’s Rotation
Boston were able to handle Orlando in part because the Magic were without their regular frontcourt. With
The next stretch won’t be nearly as forgiving.
Detroit, Minnesota, Cleveland and New York all play through size. They attack the paint, use multiple bigs, and force teams to match their physicality.
This is where Queta’s value becomes clearer. Boston’s net rating is a team best 21.3 with him on the floor. The structure he provides with rim protection, defensive communication, vertical spacing, and rebounding shows up in every lineup he touches.
If he does miss time, Boston will have to adapt.
Minott has shown he can hold his own as a small-ball five in the right matchups, giving the Celtics pace, pressure and chaos that can change the rhythm of a game.
None of those options mirror Queta’s exact role, but together, they give the Celtics a path to stay competitive while he recovers.
Joe Mazzulla on Neemias Queta’s 100.2 defensive rating, which is third-best in the NBA:
“I think our defense is pretty good in general. But I think he’s also really improved. Especially in his rim protection and pick-and-roll defense… He’s really grown that area.”
Waiting on the Celtics’ Official Update
Boston’s medical staff will evaluate the ankle over the next few days, and the initial designation offered some optimism. Nothing yet suggests a long-term absence. The Celtics will take the cautious route, and if Queta needs time, they’ll adjust with a combination of Minott, Garza, Boucher,
But the moment still revealed something meaningful about this roster.
Queta has turned himself into a meaningful piece of Boston’s structure, and the Celtics will be cautious as they wait for more information on his ankle.
His injury may not be serious, but the pause it created was telling. It showed how important his growth has been, and how quickly a role can become essential in a season like this.
