Packers CB Keisean Nixon Is Taking His Game to the Next Level

Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon has had quite a journey over his seven-year NFL career. The former South Carolina alum has grown as a player and developed from a special teams ace to a slot corner and now has established himself as the Packers top cover corner. Once again, Keisean Nixon is taking his game to the next level.

Packers CB Keisean Nixon Taking His Game to the Next Level: His Career So Far

Nixon started his NFL career the hard way. He signed with the then Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2019 season. In his rookie year, Nixon played only 38 snaps on defense all season. The rest of his action came on special teams.

Nixon saw a bit more playing time on defense in his second and third seasons with the Raiders, starting one game each season. Most of his action came as the slot or nickel corner. He also became a talented kick and punt returner.

The Packers signed Nixon before the 2022 season. He earned All Pro honors in 2022 and 2023 as a return specialist. In both seasons he led the NFL in kick return yards. Nixon also started to play more cornerback. He became the team’s primary slot cornerback in 2022.

In 2023 and 2024, he took on a bigger role and started to get reps on the boundary as well. Injuries to starters like Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes opened the door for Nixon to step in and he took full advantage of the opportunity.

In 2024, his play improved significantly. He established himself as the team’s number one cover corner. According to pro-football-reference.com, opposing quarterbacks completed just 57.5 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Nixon and had a quarterback rating of just 78.9. He also broke up a career-high seven passes.

A Great Start to 2025

This season, Nixon knew from the start he would be the team’s top cover corner. The Packers parted ways with Alexander over the offseason and did not add a corner in free agency who would threaten his status as CB1. They did not add one in the draft until the final round.

In Week 2 against Washington, he had an outstanding game. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels threw six passes to receivers covered by Nixon but only completed one of them for just nine yards. Nixon broke up the other five. Breaking up five passes in one game is outstanding. Last season in 17 games, he broke up a career-high seven.

“I always knew what I could do,” Nixon told reporters after the game. “Just like I said, I just needed the stage to do it. I get my opps, the ball’s coming out more now that I play outside. Now I can really play my game and do what I want to do.”

Head coach Matt LaFleur was also impressed. “He did a hell of a job,” the coach replied when asked about Nixon. “And that’s the expectation that we have for him every day out on the field is, you’ve got to go out and compete. And so, I was really proud of his effort.”

All Pro safety Xavier McKinney was also impressed with Nixon. “I was extremely proud of him,” McKinney added. “We’ve had conversations just me and him, I know what some of his goals and just to see him go out there and dominate today, and be that locked down corner, that CB1 that he was talking about coming out of last year. It made me happy, and I was happy to see it.”

“I think we comfortable as a group and then I’m just comfortable playing corner full time outside,” Nixon said. “It’s been like this, just playing football.”

Packers CB Keisean Nixon Taking His Game to the Next Level: Confident and Ready

Nixon has always had confidence in his own ability. Each year, he seems to be expanding his role and improving his play.

This season, the addition of Micah Parsons to the Packers defense has certainly made things easier for Nixon and the rest of the secondary. The defensive backs know they don’t need to stay with receivers too long because the pass rush will get there before the receivers have time to get downfield.

Nixon remains confident in his abilities and in his development. “There’s nobody else in the league who can go play corner outside, guard their best receiver for three plays, then go catch the punt return, do something with that and then go catch the kick. Nobody does that,” Nixon said. “I’m the only person in the league, so they’ll start giving me my credit when it’s due. I don’t even want the credit from anybody, but I know what I’m capable of and what I’m gonna show this season.”

The credit he deserves appears to be just around the corner.