As players cleaned out their lockers on the Monday after the Green Bay Packers’ 22-10 Wild Card loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Keisean Nixon told the media he was no longer interested in returning kicks.
“I want to be CB1,” Nixon said. “CB1 is not doing kick returns. That’s just what it is.”
“I’m kind of over it. I don’t really want to do it no more,” Nixon continued. “There are going to be talks with the coaching staff and stuff like that, but I think it’s over with for me.”
Brian Gutekunst isn’t fully on board with removing a two-time All-Pro from kick-return duties. Speaking at the NFL Combine, Gutekunst said he still views Nixon as the team’s best option and wants to keep using him, even if the role isn’t his alone anymore.
“I wouldn’t say he doesn’t want to,” Gutekunst said of Nixon’s returning kicks. “I know he said what he said, but he’s pretty good at it and he’s gotten a lot of awards because of it.”
“I will say this: I’d like to have multiple options there,” Gutekunst continued. “Obviously, he played a lot of defense for us last year. Was really proud of how he stepped up there. When you play as much as you do out there, you want to be able to protect him a little bit, as well.”
In 2024, Nixon balanced his role between slot defender and outside cornerback, playing 557 snaps on the perimeter and 339 in the slot. However, he returned only 18 kickoffs, 12 fewer than in 2023 and 17 fewer than in 2022. Nixon only returned four punts, 10 fewer than in 2023 and seven fewer than in 2022.
Nixon believes he had a strong first season under Jeff Hafley, adapting well to the increased responsibility across both positions.
I think my Year 1 with Jeff (Hafley) was outstanding. I think he revamped the way my career’s shaping, moved me to outside corner, and I played outstanding all year. I like Haf a lot. I can’t wait to get back next year and get Year 2 under my belt in his system playing outside corner only. I’m just excited about it.
On Tuesday, Green Bay signed former Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets receiver and kick-return specialist Mecole Hardman, adding a vertical threat to stretch the field while Christian Watson recovers from a torn ACL. While the move doesn’t say much about the long-term receiver group, it suggests Nixon may be shifting his focus to cornerback.
Hardman earned Pro Bowl, second-team All-Pro honors, and a PFWA All-Rookie Team selection as a rookie. That season, he logged 27 kickoff returns, totaling 704 yards and a touchdown. Throughout his NFL career, he has fielded 89 punts.
Green Bay will likely add more depth at cornerback through the draft because they are thin at the position. They signed Nate Hobbs during the first wave of free agency but lost Eric Stokes and Corey Ballentine, while Robert Rochell remains unsigned. As a seasoned veteran with one year of experience in Hafley’s scheme, Nixon should start camp alongside Hobbs in base defense and rotate between perimeter and nickel duties in the 4-2-5 alignment.
Nixon didn’t allow a touchdown over the final five games of the 2024 season, recording an interception and a pass breakup and allowing a 77.8 passer rating. Since joining Green Bay, he also posted the lowest completion percentage allowed in his career. However, five of the nine touchdowns he’s allowed in his career came last year.
Whether Nixon’s potential full-time move to cornerback will pan out is anyone’s guess, but signing Mecole Hardman likely indicates that Green Bay feels comfortable with Nixon taking on more snaps in the secondary.