Latest news with #KeiseanNixon
Forbes
7 days ago
- General
- Forbes
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.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Packers' Keisean Nixon open to returning kickoffs again in 2025
Green Bay Packers cornerback and All-Pro returner Keisean Nixon admitted frustration played a part in his postgame comments following January's playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and he's open to being the team's kickoff returner in 2025. "I was kind of frustrated when the season was over," Nixon said Tuesday. "Of course, I'm open to it. I'm always going to do what the team needs. Also, knowing who I am as a person, if the game's on the line, I'm going to want the ball anyway." Advertisement In the minutes following the Packers' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round, Nixon -- who fumbled the opening kickoff after a helmet-to-helmet hit -- expressed a desire to be done returning kickoffs so he could focus on his increasing responsibilities at cornerback. Time provided Nixon with a different perspective as the Packers now work through the offseason workout program this spring. "That's probably a comment I could have kept to myself, for real, 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 led the NFL in kickoffs and kickoff return yards in both 2022 and 2023, leading to All-Pro honors both seasons. He averaged 29.3 yards per kickoff return in 2024 but got only 18 opportunities. Advertisement Nixon said the adjusted kickoff rules for 2025 -- which will give the offense the ball at the 35-yard line following kickoffs -- probably won't affect how teams approach kicking him the ball. "The rule change don't matter. I don't think they are going to freely kick me the ball. They would rather get the ball at the 35 than to the 50, so I think it'll be the same," Nixon said. The Packers signed veteran returner Mecole Hardman this offseason, and first-round pick Matthew Golden and third-round pick Savion Williams have kickoff return experience, so Matt LaFleur and Rich Bisaccia will have options on special teams. Hear more from the highly confident Nixon below: This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers' Keisean Nixon open to returning kickoffs again in 2025
USA Today
7 days ago
- General
- USA Today
Packers' Keisean Nixon open to returning kickoffs again in 2025
Packers' Keisean Nixon open to returning kickoffs again in 2025 Green Bay Packers cornerback and All-Pro returner Keisean Nixon admitted frustration played a part in his postgame comments following January's playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and he's open to being the team's kickoff returner in 2025. "I was kind of frustrated when the season was over," Nixon said Tuesday. "Of course, I'm open to it. I'm always going to do what the team needs. Also, knowing who I am as a person, if the game's on the line, I'm going to want the ball anyway." In the minutes following the Packers' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round, Nixon -- who fumbled the opening kickoff after a helmet-to-helmet hit -- expressed a desire to be done returning kickoffs so he could focus on his increasing responsibilities at cornerback. Time provided Nixon with a different perspective as the Packers now work through the offseason workout program this spring. "That's probably a comment I could have kept to myself, for real, 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 led the NFL in kickoffs and kickoff return yards in both 2022 and 2023, leading to All-Pro honors both seasons. He averaged 29.3 yards per kickoff return in 2024 but got only 18 opportunities. Nixon said the adjusted kickoff rules for 2025 -- which will give the offense the ball at the 35-yard line following kickoffs -- probably won't affect how teams approach kicking him the ball. "The rule change don't matter. I don't think they are going to freely kick me the ball. They would rather get the ball at the 35 than to the 50, so I think it'll be the same," Nixon said. The Packers signed veteran returner Mecole Hardman this offseason, and first-round pick Matthew Golden and third-round pick Savion Williams have kickoff return experience, so Matt LaFleur and Rich Bisaccia will have options on special teams. Hear more from the highly confident Nixon below:
Washington Post
7 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Packers' Keisean Nixon now says he remains open to possibility of returning kickoffs
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon remains open to the possibility of returning kickoffs and says he regrets comments he made immediately after the 2024 season indicating otherwise. Nixon, an All-Pro kickoff returner in 2022 and 2023, said the day after the Packers' 22-10 playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that he's 'kind of through with' returning kicks. Nixon had a different take on the subject Tuesday while speaking during the Packers' organized team activities.
Associated Press
7 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Packers' Keisean Nixon now says he remains open to possibility of returning kickoffs
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon remains open to the possibility of returning kickoffs and says he regrets comments he made immediately after the 2024 season indicating otherwise. Nixon, an All-Pro kickoff returner in 2022 and 2023, said the day after the Packers' 22-10 playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that he's 'kind of through with' returning kicks. Nixon had a different take on the subject Tuesday while speaking during the Packers' organized team activities. 'Of course, I'm open to it,' Nixon said. 'I'm always going to do what the team needs.' Nixon's reluctance about returning kicks stemmed in part because of his increasing role on defense. Nixon said at the time that 'I want to be CB1' and added that 'CB1 is not doing kick returns. That's just what it is.' 'That's a comment I probably could have kept to myself, for sure, but it is what it is,' Nixon said Tuesday. '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 also wasn't happy with the impact of the dynamic kickoff format that took effect last season. Nixon averaged 29.3 yards on 18 kickoff returns in the 2024 regular season and fumbled the opening kickoff of that playoff loss. He had 35 kickoff returns in 2022 and 30 in 2023. NFL owners voted to move touchbacks on kickoffs from the 30 to the 35 this season, but Nixon has doubts about whether that will lead to more returns. He believes teams still won't want to risk the possibility that he makes a big play. 'The rule change don't matter,' Nixon said. 'I don't think they'll fully kick me the ball. They'd rather (us) get it at the 35 than give it at the 50.' The Packers have other options to return kicks. Green Bay added former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who has 45 career kick returns and 89 punt returns. The two receivers Green Bay drafted – Matthew Golden in the first round and Savion Williams in the third – had experience returning kicks in college. Nixon wants to build on what he accomplished on defense last year. His role expanded when two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander played just seven games because of injuries to his knee, quadriceps and groin. Alexander remains on Green Bay's roster, but isn't present for organized team activities as his future with the team remains uncertain. 'I love to play with Jaire,' Nixon said. 'That's just what it is since I've been here. Jaire pushed me to be really who I am because it's always friendly competition between me and him. Whatever happens, happens. We don't have control over that. If he's here, we're going to rock out. If he's not, we're still going to rock out.' Whether or not Alexander plays for the Packers this season, Nixon figures to have major responsibilities on defense again. After most of his previous defensive snaps came as a nickel, Nixon showed an ability to adapt to a new assignment 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,' coach Matt LaFleur said. 'I think he did a lot of great things last year, primarily playing on the outside.' The 27-year-old Nixon believes he still has plenty of room to grow as he enters his seventh NFL season since he played so little defense early in his career. Nixon started his career with Oakland in 2019 and never played more than 15% of the Raiders' defensive snaps in any of his three seasons with them before joining the Packers in 2022. He played 94.1% of Green Bay's defensive snaps last season. 'I don't feel like I'm an old guy yet,' Nixon said. 'I'm in year seven, but my body feels like I'm on year four. Because with the Raiders, I don't feel like I was really on the team, for real. I was just making money, I guess. It's just what it was. When I got here, I feel like I was a rookie.' NOTES: DL Kenny Clark said he underwent surgery on his right foot after the season as he dealt with bunions and bone spurs. Clark, who has been limited in OTAs, says he injured the foot during the Packers' season-opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil. … DL Lukas Van Ness said he wore a full cast up until 'about week 10 or 11' while playing with a broken right thumb last year. ___ AP NFL:
