Packers' Keisean Nixon Might Not Be Done Returning Kicks Just Yet
Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon averaged a career-best 29.3 yards per kick return in ... More 2024, but had just 18 return chances.
Keisean Nixon is awfully quick with the ball in his hands.
Turns out the Green Bay Packer cornerback/return ace might also be too quick with some of his words.
When the Packers' 2024 campaign ended, Nixon said: 'I want to be CB1. CB1 is not doing kick returns. That's just what it is.'
On Tuesday, after Green Bay finished an OTA practice, Nixon walked back that statement.
'That's a comment I probably could've kept to myself, for sure, but it is what it is,' Nixon said. 'I meant what I said, but I'm also a team player and if the coach and the team need me to do something, I'm going to do it for sure.'
Nixon was an All-Pro kick returner in both 2022 and 2023, averaging 27.6 yards per return those two seasons. After the NFL implemented new kickoff return rules in 2024, though, Nixon had just 18 return attempts.
Nixon actually averaged a career-best 29.3 yards per kick return last season. But Nixon's limited opportunities, and his critical lost fumble on the opening play of the Packers' playoff loss to Philadelphia, led to clear frustration.
'I was kind of frustrated when the season was over, but it's (valuable) always — especially when it comes to me being who I am when doing it,' Nixon said. 'So of course, I'm open to it. I'm always going to do what the team needs.
'Also, just me knowing who I am as a person. If the game's on the line, I'm going to want the ball anyways.'
Nixon had the best defensive year of his six NFL seasons in 2024, when he started 15 games and set career-highs in tackles (88), tackles for loss (eight), passes defensed (seven), sacks (three) and quarterback hits (six). He also had one interception and a team-high three forced fumbles.
While many across the league probably don't view Nixon as a shutdown corner, he's certainly a valuable piece of Green Bay's defense. Nixon — who joined the Packers in 2022 — played the slot early in his Green Bay career, then was predominantly on the outside last year.
'To his credit, he's shown a lot of versatility, you know, in terms of how we've used him in the past … switching him from inside to outside,' Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. 'And I think he did a lot of great things last year, primarily playing on the outside.'
Whether or not Nixon's duties still include returning kicks, though, remains to be seen.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
9 minutes ago
- USA Today
Winners and losers of Aaron Rodgers' deal with Steelers? So many questions
Winners and losers of Aaron Rodgers' deal with Steelers? So many questions Show Caption Hide Caption Mike Greenberg says Aaron Rodgers still has ability to succeed in the NFL ESPN commentator Mike Greenberg chats with Mackenzie Salmon about what's left in the tank for Aaron Rodgers as he searches for a new team. Sports Seriously After what will be 86 days – though it felt much longer – Aaron Rodgers' first experience as an NFL free agent will apparently end, black and gold smoke finally emanating from Pittsburgh as reports surfaced Thursday that he will sign with the Steelers Friday and become their quarterback of the (very immediate) future. Even at 41, Rodgers could bring a level of stability behind center the Steelers haven't enjoyed since well before Ben Roethlisberger's retirement in 2022 – which occurred five years after Pittsburgh's most recent postseason victory. Yet, depending on the circumstances unfold, Rodgers might be anything but a calming presence. Either way, the 2025 season should be a compelling one in the Steel City, which could experience a whole host of winners and losers – we think, hence the question marks? – with its latest quarterback coming to town: WINNERS Aaron Rodgers and Mike Tomlin? They'd had something of a long-distance bro-mance years before they officially team up … and before Tomlin, always one to turn a phrase, exclaimed 'there's no substitute for intimacy' following Rodgers' visit to the Steelers' facility in March. It remains to be seen how their transition from mutual admirers to direct collaborators goes, but what has either got to lose? Neither has appeared in a Super Bowl since the 2010 season, when Rodgers' Green Bay Packers barely got the better of Tomlin's Steelers – and they could certainly be mutually supporting the other's protracted quest to secure a second ring (if we don't count the one Tomlin won as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002). But Rodgers was about as good a veteran option as Tomlin could have hoped for following the Russell Wilson Experience in 2024, while the Steelers were probably Rodgers' best hope all along – given the Vikings never swiped right – to allow him to conclude his career in a manner he deems fitting after getting unceremoniously dumped by the New York Jets. Minnesota Vikings? It had to be tempting. Right? Minnesota's brass continues to – understandably – say glowing things about 2024 first-round QB J.J. McCarthy, whose rookie season ended before it began due to a preseason meniscus injury. But there's no denying that McCarthy is an unknown professional commodity, and that a team coming off a 14-3 season – thanks in large part to departed Pro Bowl QB Sam Darnold – and with a loaded roster at just about every other position is taking a risk. But rather than replicating Brett Favre's Packers-Jets-Vikings career-ending path – and how amped up would the already spicy Green Bay rivalry have been by injecting Rodgers back into it? – HC Kevin O'Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah are doing right by McCarthy, putting him on the field with the loaded supporting cast any young passer should have before being asked to shoulder too heavy a burden. Right? Because McCarthy couldn't possibly be the second coming of Christian Ponder. Right? Will Howard? After mismanaging the quarterback position for at least a half-dozen years – including the spiraling portion of Big Ben's career – Pittsburgh at least had one (side?) eye on the future in April, drafting the Ohio State quarterback in the sixth round. And given Howard is likely shooting for the QB3 job here behind Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, he could soak up some wisdom given Rodgers' willingness to mentor Jordan Love in Green Bay and Zach Wilson with the Jets. Calvin Austin III and Pat Freiermuth? Could the Steelers' slot receiver and tight end, respectively, wind up getting the predominant target share from Rodgers, who tended to thrower shorter passes and typically between the hashes last season – often getting rid of the ball in a hurry rather than inviting more abuse onto his aging frame? Don't be surprised if it's the case – and it might be a coup for Austin as he enters a contract year. LOSERS DK Metcalf? Will a wideout who typically does most of his damage as an outside deep threat defeating man-to-man coverage grow frustrated playing with Rodgers, especially given their combustible on-field personas and his growing propensity to stay inside the numbers? (And especially given Rodgers' own combustible on-field persona and propensity to telegraph shade at teammates who don't run routes to his specifications?) Don't be surprised, despite Rodgers' private workouts with Metcalf. Arthur Smith The playbook of Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator has generally worked best when he has an athletic quarterback who operates a run-heavy attack that's also reliant on play action and a healthy mix of deep shots to physical receivers. But instead of re-signing Justin Fields, the Steelers wound up with Rodgers, who tends to have his own way of doing things, so ... RFK Jr. After considering Rodgers as a running mate for his failed 2024 presidential bid, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – now the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services – will have to continue waiting to sign the quarterback who was infamously "immunized" against COVID-19 but wasn't vaccinated. Yeah, they seem like a good fit as Kennedy amplifies his anti-vax agenda. But Rodgers will have to wait to become the food dye czar. Mason Rudolph After returning from his one-year exile in Nashville, he was getting so close to QB1 with the Steelers, for whom he's 8-4-1 as a spot starter over the course of his six seasons with the franchise. Heck, RFK Jr.'s boss, Donald Trump, recently opined at a Western Pennsylvania rally that Rudolph, who attended the festivities, would be the guy for the Steelers. And who knows as he's still just one torn Achilles away. Pittsburgh fans They've long been told by Tomlin that "The standard is the standard" – but have known for five decades that that means Lombardi Trophies. Yet the organization's Stairway to Seven has now been under construction for 16 years – since Tomlin, Roethlisberger and Co. prevailed over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl 43. But can Rodgers really add any meaningful steps at this stage? The last time Steelers fans saw him in person – this past October in Acrisure Stadium – he was picked off twice in a 37-15 loss, which almost certainly won't make him an easy sell as a savior. Aaron Rodgers and Mike Tomlin? Can you imagine their press conferences if this thing goes sideways? Tomlin has famously never had a losing season in his 18 years at the helm in Western Pennsylvania, yet he has a six-game losing streak in the playoffs going back to the 2016 campaign. As for Rodgers? He's lost 22 of his past 36 regular-season starts, which doesn't include three defeats in his past four postseason appearances. Given how much will be expected of this shotgun marriage, there's certainly quite a risk that this duo's codependency devolves into an unfortunate union that might even send both up the Three Rivers. All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
Fox Sports
14 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Adam Sandler's next film could feature Derrick Henry if he hits 2,000 yards
Adam Sandler's next movie featuring a prominent athlete could star Derrick Henry, but there's one thing that needs to happen to get the ball rolling on that film: Henry has to run for 2,000-plus yards in the 2025-26 NFL season. The Baltimore Ravens' running back has never reached that mark in his nine-year career — coming within 79 yards of it last season — but now he has extra incentive. That's because Henry has an affinity for Sandler's films. "You know, Adam Sandler is my favorite actor," Henry said on "The Dan Patrick Show" on Wednesday when the host showed him his "Happy Gilmore" hoodie. Then, the Ravens' running back doubled down, asking Patrick for a favor. "If you ever see (Sandler) again, tell him I'm a really big fan. I would really love to meet him one day." Henry displayed genuine glee when making the request, exemplifying his true adoration for Sandler. Patrick saw it, too, confirming he would fulfill that request. "I'm going to text him today," Patrick said. "And, if you get to 2,000 yards, I'll get you in a Sandler movie." That's when Henry really lit up. When he had been asked earlier about his goal of running for 2,000 yards in a single season, he hadn't expressed much motivation, but that guarantee to be in the next Sandler film changed his outlook. "Say no more," Henry said. "Bet is on!" So, there it is. If Henry can usurp 2,000 yards, he could follow in the footsteps of other superstar athletes, such as Kevin Garnett, who acted alongside Sandler in "Uncut Gems", and Anthony Edwards, who was a key supporting character in "Hustle". It may seem like a tall task, or a "Longest Yard," if you will, as Henry has yet to reach that mark and is heading into his 10th NFL season — but don't bet against him with a date on the big screen next to Sandler on the line. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
New York Times
18 minutes ago
- New York Times
With Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers risk doing exactly what they said they wouldn't
For years, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been stuck in football purgatory, good enough to keep coach Mike Tomlin's non-losing season streak alive but not great enough to snap a now eight-year postseason winless drought. In early January, after a 10-3 season unraveled with a five-game collapse and first-round flameout in the playoffs, Tomlin stepped in front of a lectern for his end-of-season news conference and promised change. Advertisement 'I have a cliche that the guys oftentimes throw back to me in jest, but it's true: 'Two is a pattern,'' Tomlin said. 'I say that because there's an expiration on adjusting, adapting. So, I use that phrase to reflect urgency, to reflect how quickly it is that we need to adapt and adjust and move. 'We have had similar results,' Tomlin continued. 'Rest assured that we're not doing the same things hoping for a different result.' The Steelers appeared to be making that change ahead of free agency, when general manager Omar Khan pulled off a blockbuster trade for former Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf. The big splash for a star receiver represented a philosophical shift in several ways. An organization that has long believed in its draft-and-develop approach instantly upgraded at a critical position with a proven veteran. By handing Metcalf a five-year, $150 million extension, the Steelers made him by far the highest-paid external acquisition in team history. Simultaneously, a franchise that has led the league in defensive spending the past three seasons began to redistribute some of its payroll to the offensive side of the ball. Perhaps things really were changing in Pittsburgh. Or maybe not. On Thursday, 85 days after he was released by the Jets, four-time NFL MVP and one-time Super Bowl champion Aaron Rodgers decided to join the Steelers on a one-year deal, league sources told The Athletic's Dianna Russini. Yes, Rodgers is a different quarterback. But the Steelers have been here before, relying on an aging, past-his-prime veteran and expecting the NFL's highest-paid defense to prop him up. They tried that model last season with a 36-year-old Russell Wilson, and before that with a late-30s Ben Roethlisberger. In both instances, the results were a mix of flashes and fool's gold. Is adding Rodgers doing the same thing and expecting a different result? The Steelers chose this course for the first time in 2019, after a 37-year-old Roethlisberger tore multiple ligaments in his throwing elbow. The quarterback had already flirted with retirement several times. The upcoming 2020 draft class was stocked with quarterbacks, including Joe Burrow (who would go first to the Bengals), Tua Tagovailoa (fifth, Dolphins), Justin Herbert (sixth, Chargers), Jordan Love (26th, Packers) and Jalen Hurts (53rd, Eagles). However, instead of preparing for life without their aging and injured Hall of Fame quarterback, the Steelers traded their first-round pick for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, redoubling their efforts to win with a defense-first approach. Advertisement When Roethlisberger returned in 2020, everyone knew he wasn't the same. But the Steelers convinced themselves he wouldn't need to be, with a now-complete defense supporting him. If T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward and Fitzpatrick could nearly lift Duck Hodges to the playoffs, what could they do with Big Ben? It was fool's gold. For a while, it worked, as the Steelers started 11-0 in 2020. Then came the 1-4 collapse and the first-round playoff loss to the Browns. After a 9-7-1 season in 2021, which ended with a blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs, Roethlisberger finally retired. After two years of Kenny Pickett, the Steelers reverted to the veteran route when they signed Wilson to a one-year, $1.2 million deal last spring. Even though the Broncos were paying Wilson to go away, and the QB wasn't near his prime, the Steelers again told themselves he wouldn't need to be his Pro-Bowl best with the NFL's highest-paid defense supporting him. What happened? Very much like the Steelers in 2020, Wilson came out of the gate strong to win six of his first seven starts, breathing hope and optimism into the franchise. But just like Roethlisberger, Wilson hit a wall at the end of the year, and the tailspin began. Sacks became problematic. Teams started game planning to take away the moonball, and the entire offense ground to a halt. This is the problem with aging quarterbacks. It's not as if the Monstars from 'Space Jam' sneak into their houses while they're sleeping and steal their powers overnight. Instead, it's much more subtle, deceiving to the eye and the emotions. Often, the flashes of brilliance are still there in doses, reminders of what once was. But nostalgia is a dangerous drug. These moments, as intoxicating as they can be, are almost always misleading. Especially as seasons wear on, those thrilling flashes become fewer and farther between. By choosing Rodgers, the Steelers are taking the same gamble for a third time. They'll do so with a more successful but much older quarterback. Yes, Rodgers was better than both of his Pittsburgh predecessors in his prime. In a career that's spanned two decades, he ranks first all-time in passer rating (102.6), fifth in passing touchdowns (503) and seventh in passing yards (62,952). Advertisement Maybe his tenure in Pittsburgh will work out for him the way it did for two of the QBs with more career passing touchdowns, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Manning used his brain to work around physical limitations and, with the help of a historic defense, hoisted the Lombardi Trophy at 39. And Brady, who beat back Father Time better than anyone else, won the Super Bowl with Tampa Bay at age 43. But the risks are impossible to ignore. Sure, Rodgers was a perennial MVP candidate who could lift his team into Super Bowl contention. He will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. But think about things in the present tense: What is he right now, as a 41-year-old just 20 months removed from a torn Achilles? The Jets found out last year, as they failed to score a touchdown in two whole games, including one with Rodgers' preferred target, Davante Adams. At his best, Rodgers used his mobility to extend plays and create outside of structure. He was a magician. But age and injury have largely robbed him of his superpower. He was the NFL's worst QB against the blitz (min. 300 pass attempts) in 2024, with a minus-0.20 EPA per dropback against five or more rushers. At times last season, Rodgers also appeared reluctant to take shots downfield, instead favoring a precision passing game. That wouldn't seem to mesh with the Steelers' current roster construction, which features Metcalf — an explosive deep threat but not the precise route runner Rodgers typically prefers — and few other proven receivers after the trade of George Pickens. Rodgers' raw 2024 stats — 3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 11 interceptions — were inflated by his 584 attempts (second-most in the NFL, which wouldn't seem to fit with a run-first offense), many coming in garbage time. Rodgers reportedly played through hamstring, knee and ankle injuries last season, hampering his play. Could he be better if he's healthy for a full season? Sure. But what are the odds he'll make it through a season unscathed, given he turns 42 in December? The most optimistic way to view this situation is that Rodgers improved at the end of the 2024 season, when he was further removed from his 2023 Achilles tear and nagging 2024 injuries. The hope would be that in a more stable environment, with the NFL's highest-paid defense, a remade offensive line and a commitment to running the ball, Rodgers will be more effective than he was in New York. But, again, that's the same thing the Steelers said about Roethlisberger and Wilson. If two is a pattern, what will the third gamble become?
