Keisean Nixon Should Continue Returning Kicks for the Packers
By GilMartin
In the aftermath of the Green Bay Packers playoff loss to the Eagles last January, cornerback Keisean Nixon declared he no longer wanted to return kicks for the Pack so he could concentrate on being the team’s number one cornerback. But this week at OTAs, the two-time All Pro return specialist wisely reconsidered his earlier stance and offered to resume returning kicks in 2025.
“I was kind of frustrated when the season was over,” Nixon admitted this week at OTAs. “But it’s valuable, always, especially when it comes to me, being who I am when doing it. So, of course, I’m open to it. I’m always going to do what the team needs.”
Nixon had good reason to be frustrated after the playoff loss. His fumble on the opening kickoff led to the Eagles first score of the game and put the Packers behind early 7-0. Philadelphia was awarded possession even though replays appeared to show Nixon recovering the football.
But Nixon is an excellent return specialist. In 2022, he led the NFL with 1,009 yards on kick returns and scored a 105-yard touchdown. One year later, he averaged 26.1 yards per runback and again led the league in kick return yardage. He was named All-Pro after both seasons.
With the new kickoff rules the NFL introduced, Nixon’s impact was reduced last season. He returned only 18 kicks after running back 30 in 2023. He still averaged a healthy 29.3 yards per runback when he did get his hands on the football. That happened more often later in the season when the weather got colder, and it was harder to kick the ball out of the end zone.
Nixon explained his comment and his change of heart. “Knowing who I am as a person, if the game’s on the line, I’m going to want the ball anyways,” Nixon told reporters. “That’s a comment I probably could’ve kept to myself, for sure, but it is what it is. 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.”
Meanwhile, Nixon took on more responsibility as a corner. Prior to 2024, he lined up mostly in the slot. But, when Jaire Alexander was lost to injury, Nixon moved to the boundary and saw more action on defense. In fact, he played 94 percent of the team’s defensive snaps last season, by far the highest percentage of defensive snaps in his NFL career.
Nixon also played well at cornerback. According to pro-football-reference.com, opposing quarterbacks completed 57.5 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Nixon last season and had a quarterback rating of just 78.9.
The previous season, the completion percentage for opposing quarterbacks was 77.8 and the quarterback rating was 104.8.
Nixon’s role on defense may depend on what happens with Alexander. The team’s current top cover corner remains in limbo as the Packers seek to restructure his contract after he missed 20 of the last 34 regular season games due to assorted injuries.
If Alexander returns and stays healthy, he will be one of the starting boundary corners. Nixon may start at the other boundary or take over again in the slot. Knowing the way the Packers approach things, he’ll see action at both positions over the course of any given game, depending on the situation.
The Packers did sign veteran return specialist/wide receiver Mecole Hardman as a free agent over the offseason. The former Chief would provide the Packers with another weapon as a return specialist, but Nixon would be eliminating something he does very well from his game if he gave up returning kicks.
Last month, special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia addressed the media and said he still expected Nixon to “be in the mix” as a return specialist despite his comments after the season ended. Now, it looks like Bisaccia was correct.
Keeping Nixon on kick returns gives the Packers another elite weapon that can make a big difference at a crucial moment. He is fast, fearless and always a threat to make a game breaking play when he gets his hands on the football. The Packers are better off with Nixon still returning kicks than they would be if he only played cornerback.
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Comments (28)
T7Steve
June 05, 2025 at 09:52 am
See how it plays out. Maybe use him in certain situations and other players when those situations don't exist. Those situations could be; when receiving the kick to start the game or half, when trailing late in halves or the kicker/team is known to keep the ball in play (which will happen more this season).
LambeauPlain
June 05, 2025 at 09:58 am
Nixon only played any significant CB snaps during the last two seasons during his 6 years in the NFL. He's made steady improvement and his upside remains. Due to Alexander's many absences last year, Nixon was CB1 for the Packers last season.
In addition to his growing coverage skills, his best improvement has been his sure tackling. In 2023 he had 23 missed tackles. But he gets the ball carrier to the ground now with only 7 missed tackles last year and 4th on the team with 88 takedowns. He also had 7 passes defensed.
Anyone worried about exposing Nixon to injury playing STs? Many were concerned to playing Golden and his return skills on STs, especially PR, for the same reason.
His $18 M contract last year raised some eyebrows last offseason...it is looking to be a steal now.
T7Steve
June 05, 2025 at 10:17 am
You're probably right about protecting him.
If he keeps balling, I expect his agent will want to get him a rais as he was basically being paid as a good return specialist/backup/slot.
NFLfan
June 05, 2025 at 10:16 am
Sometimes Nixon is a liability on returns. He hasn't always understood the rules.
He is not a CB1 but he has tremendous heart, persistence, willingness to tackle and I can understand why the Packers value him-that does not make him a CB1 though.
LambeauPlain
June 05, 2025 at 10:33 am
He was CB1 for the Packers last season. If not him, who was...Stokes? Valentine? Maybe Ballantine? His last two years playing CB have displayed continuous improvement and production not matched by any other CB.
Alexander was CB1, but not last year due to earning an incomplete for all the games missed.
NFLfan
June 05, 2025 at 10:40 am
@LP-what I mean is that he does not have the talent of a starting caliber CB1. GB has relied on him but that is because Alexander is often absent and the CB room lacks depth/talent.
crayzpackfan
June 05, 2025 at 10:27 am
I don't know who is returning kicks, but I sure hope they take Reed off of PR duties. It isn't necessary. Also, if I am being honest here, he isn't really that good at it. He's a really good player, but his returns and decisions leave a lot to be desired as a PR guy.
Leatherhead
June 05, 2025 at 10:38 am
We should never return kicks we don't have to, and when we do, the single most important thing is to not turn it over. Receive the ball, return it if you have to, don't turn it over, put the offense on the field.
I'm fine with Reed as a punt catcher. He's sure handed. But we should always fair catch, so that we don't risk unnecessary injuries and turnovers.
LLCHESTY
June 05, 2025 at 01:24 pm
It's hilarious you refuse to give this idea up even though it's been proved wrong. You go boy!
Leatherhead
June 05, 2025 at 01:39 pm
Proved wrong?
crayzpackfan
June 05, 2025 at 02:09 pm
Are you at least happy that Desmond Howard returned kicks and punts often in the 1996 season and the Super Bowl in 97? I wonder what he and oh, I don't know, Hester would think of your philosophy along with countless others.
Leatherhead
June 05, 2025 at 05:39 pm
I was happy, thirty years ago. Times have changed. Returning kicks and punts is a losing bet. The benefit of the return doesn't outweigh the cost in terms of injuries, penalties, and turnovers. Did Nixon's TD return against Minnesota count more than his fumble against the Eagles? No,it didn't.
Hester is an anomaly. If we had Devin Hester on the team, that would be different. But we don't. Most teams don't. It's a losing bet.
For 30 years, teams have been returning fewer and fewer punts, because they realize this. Kickoff returns were disappearing because teams just took the touchback and the ball at the 25 and avoided the injuries, penalties, and turnovers that returning kicks involves.
We returned 19 punts last year, one more than the Rams. 158 yards. One punt return per game, for 9 yards, and for that, we took all those risks. The juice isn't worth the squeeze. Fair catch, put your high dollar offense on the field, get the bottom of the roster off the field.
LLCHESTY
June 05, 2025 at 02:53 pm
Yes, over a year ago I linked an article that showed how much scoring went up with every 5 yards closer to the end zone drives started at.
You don't think teams and coaches have analyzed your theory and found it doesn't compute? You must be the smartest guy in the room hunh?
Leatherhead
June 05, 2025 at 05:41 pm
I know they've analyzed it, and that's why we have fewer and fewer punt returns every year, and why kickoff returns were disappearing until they changed the rules.
Returning punts and kicks is a losing proposition. Keep track and see for yourself.
EricTorkelson
June 05, 2025 at 07:13 pm
OK LLCHESTY ... here is some more math for you KNixon had 782 yards on 30 returns in 2023 in fact he led the league ... but what if he dropped his knee every kickoff ? so my math says 30 kick offs times 30 yrds equals 900. So you are correct the Packers scoring would have gone up that year!
Alberta_Packer
June 05, 2025 at 11:25 am
The NFLs modified kickoff rules were largely established to reduce player injuries - which happened. Perhaps the prime reason being that only 22% of kickoffs were returned in 2023 and 33% in 2024.
After considering this data - the league decided that it wasn't good enough. So once again they modified the dynamic kickoff rules (last April) - to encourage more returns. I think that it would be reasonable to assume that more returns = more injuries.
I can't tell you exactly how many starting CBs - other than Nixon - return kickoffs. My guess is few - if any. However responsible risk management dictates that Nixon should not return kickoffs this year. Especially as the Packers have viable alternatives in Hardman, Golden, Williams etc.
Cheezehead72
June 05, 2025 at 02:35 pm
I have not looked into the numbers or the data and probably won't I would assume that they only considered KOs that were returned.
GregC
June 05, 2025 at 01:42 pm
Best case scenario, as far as I'm concerned, is that Mecole Hardman makes the team as the #6 WR and assumes all punt and kick return duties. If that doesn't happen, then they should probably go with Nixon on kickoffs and Jayden Reed or Matthew Golden on punts. I agree with others that it would be good to get Reed off the punt return team, as he is not particularly good at returning punts anyway.
Leatherhead
June 05, 2025 at 01:50 pm
That would have 6 WRs active of the 21 offensive players. 2 QBs, 3 RBs, 3 TEs and 7 OL.
Reed is sure handed and makes the catch. That's the single most important quality in a return guy.
GregC
June 05, 2025 at 02:03 pm
Don't they usually have 22 or 23 offensive players active? The total is 48, and if you take away the kicker, punter, and long snapper, that leaves 45. Do they go with 24 on defense and 21 on offense? I thought it was more equal than that.
Leatherhead
June 05, 2025 at 05:30 pm
They did change it from 45-46-48. Minus the three specialists and it is 45, so you could have a 22/23 split. Essentially, you can dress two more guys on the bottom of the roster. They still have to be on the 53.
GregC
June 05, 2025 at 05:36 pm
I know the Packers don't usually like to keep a return specialist on the roster unless he has a role on the offense or defense, but this might be the year to do that. It is probably Hardman's only realistic path to making the team.
Leatherhead
June 05, 2025 at 05:43 pm
I agree with that. With the limit at 48 , not 45, it makes it easier to keep a 6th guy/ return specialist on the team.
jannesbjornson
June 06, 2025 at 03:46 pm
What about your dude, Savion Williams? He fits the profile, or is he fumble prone?
HarryHodag
June 05, 2025 at 02:34 pm
Mecole Hardman? Was he just signed to take up a roster spot? His primary mission is to return kicks, at least that's the pitch.
Nixon will likely take over at corner if Jaire bids good-bye, at least in the rotation. So Nixon gets hurt returning a kick(a likely scenario) and suddenly you have Moe, Curly and Larry covering the lethal receivers from the Lions, Vikings Eagle and Bears and others.
Kick returns are important, but not as important as solid cornerback play against some of the league's elite receivers.
Cheezehead72
June 05, 2025 at 02:49 pm
Off subject. Rodgers signed with the Steelers for a year
Alberta_Packer
June 05, 2025 at 05:01 pm
So it's on - Rodgers vs. Love at Acrisure Stadium on Oct. 26! Also the rest of the Packers vs. The Steelers.
EricTorkelson
June 05, 2025 at 03:58 pm
No, K Nixon got worse as last year wore on ... it is not his speed or fielding the ball it is his judgement. He started to run everything out no mater how deep or what the situation was. Several times Nixon caught the ball to deep in the endzone or was pinned in the corner of the field when he could have just let the ball roll out of bounce and the Packers could have started at the 40.
Because it was predictable that K Nixon was going to run back every Kickoff, the games I attended it appeared the opposing team would kick to the corner of the field crash players to the corner and pummel Nixon around the 20.
I noticed nothing was mentioned about Nixon 2023 year 30 returns for 782 yards ... if I do the math and the ball is let go through the end zone and the Packers get the ball on the 30yr line ( wouldn't that be 900 yards aggregate ) just sayin!
Anyway Nixon yes he is fast but a bad combination of over confidents and being predictable, lets leave him at corner and go with someone who can use experience and smarts and maybe we can get more starts at the 30....