Packers Abruptly Terminate Contract of 25-Year-Old Defender

The Green Bay Packers released 25-year-old safety Murvin Kenion III from the practice squad this week, ending a brief stay that began when the undrafted rookie was waived at the 53-man cutdown and brought back a day later, via the NFL’s transaction log.

Kenion, a Vallejo, Ca., native, signed with Green Bay after the 2026 draft following a standout senior season at Nevada. He was the Wolf Pack’s Defensive MVP and a second-team All-Mountain West pick after tying for the conference lead with five interceptions.

He added 59 tackles, five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and three pass breakups in 12 games. Before Nevada, he played at Sacramento State, Idaho and City College of San Francisco.

Green Bay kept only four safeties on the initial 53-man roster: Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard and Kitan Oladapo. Kenion and veteran Mark Perry were among the cuts on Aug. 30.

Kenion returned to the practice squad the next day after a productive preseason that included five tackles and a pass breakup, plus a notable end-zone breakup in the opener. Special-teams work was part of his case as the fifth safety.

That role lasted a little more than a week. With the regular season opening, the Packers signed safety Kahlef Hailassie to the practice squad and released Kenion, according to team announcements and reporting. Hailassie was already on the practice field Wednesday.

The swap leaves Kenion and Perry both off Green Bay’s roster as Week 1 approaches.

Practice-squad moves are common this time of year as teams tweak depth and special-teams options.

Kenion’s college production and preseason flashes made him a logical candidate to stick as insurance behind a thin safety group. The Packers instead chose Hailassie for that backup role.

Kenion remains a free agent and can sign with another club’s practice squad or 53-man roster. At 5-foot-11 and about 200 pounds, he profiles as a versatile defensive back who can contribute in coverage and on special teams.

For a player who bounced through four college programs and earned a Packers opportunity as an undrafted free agent, the next step is finding a new landing spot before the season settles in.

Green Bay’s safety room stays compact heading into the opener. Kenion’s release is a reminder of how quickly depth-chart battles can flip even after a player survives the first wave of cuts.