All offseason long, fans wondered when the Green Bay Packers were going to add more depth at the cornerback position. Finally, the Packers made their decision on Jaire Alexander but, after that, they'd go get more help ... right?
Surely, Matt LaFleur wasn't going to let Green Bay waltz into the season having only added Nate Hobbs and counting on Keisean Nixon or Carrington Valentine as the team's CB2. That would be inviting trouble. It would be coaching malpractice.
Or would it?
After just a couple of weeks, it turns out LaFleur was smarter than all of the doubters.
Keisean Nixon is making good on Matt LaFleur's offseason bet
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has been getting creative with his cornerback room. In the team's 27-18 win over the Washington Commanders on Thursday night, he had Hobbs both in the slot, at times, and out wide.
But the story wasn't Hobbs in this one. The story was mostly about Nixon, who had been trying to assure us, he could "do it with the best of them." He was everywhere. He made sure to stand out for everyone watching, but the best part about this single performance? The Commanders kept targeting him.
Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels went after Nixon more than any other cornerback, targeting him a total of six times, per Pro Football Focus. On those six targets, Nixon gave up just a single catch for nine yards and an opposing quarterback rating of 39.6.
Here is the kicker: Nixon ended the game with a whopping five pass breakups. Do the math.
Yep, the five incompletions thrown his way were all broken up by the man himself.
This offseason, Nixon was out to prove he could, indeed, be more than just a special teams standout. He knew the pressure he was facing. Nixon understood the Packers were betting on him, and thus far, he has delivered.
Through just two games, it's pretty easy to say that Packers fans haven't had to worry about this secondary. Most fans would have told you, just a couple of months ago, that they weren't exactly sure it would be a force outside of Xavier McKinney.
Yet, Nixon's performance said it all. And, Valentine stood out in a big way in this one, too. Washington targeted Valentine four times which resulted in only one catch for seven yards and, like Nixon, an opposing quarterback rating of 39.6. Valentine also added in a pass breakup of his own.
For all that was made about replacing Jaire Alexander over the offseason and how this room was worrisome, the Packers sure look like they're more than fine.