Packers’ CB battle takes major turn after Keisean Nixon criticism

The Green Bay Packers are trying to finally get over that playoff hump and make a run at a Super Bowl this season after injuries derailed their title chase in 2025. While some of those stars come back from injury, Matt LaFleur and the rest of his staff are solidifying the starting lineup as Week 1 quickly approaches.

One of the hottest position battles in Titletown heading into the season is at cornerback, where neither starting spot is currently determined. Over the offseason, Keisean Nixon was a presumed starter at corner after a Pro Bowl season in 2025, but a tough training camp headlined by a feud with the coaching staff has put that into question.

Nixon is battling with Carrington Valentine, second-round rookie Brandon Cisse and free-agent addition Benjamin St-Juste for the two starting spots, and Cisse is beginning to take the lead. The South Carolina product took all of the first-team reps at practice on Tuesday, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.

“Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Benjamin St-Juste each worked with the No. 2 defense at times today,” Schneidman reported on X, formerly Twitter. “The only CB who exclusively got first-team reps was second-round rookie Brandon Cisse.”

Cisse is a great athlete and has all of the physical tools required to be a productive cornerback, so it’s no surprise to see new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon taking a chance on him and letting him develop during the season. However, it would be a surprise to see Nixon lose out on the second spot to Valentine, who started 11 games last season, and St-Juste, who has been very up-and-down during his career.

The Packers’ secondary will be especially important early in the season while Micah Parsons is still working his way back from a torn ACL injury that will keep him out well into the regular season. While Parsons is out, the Packers’ pass rush will suffer and the cornerbacks will be asked to carry a bigger load in coverage as a result. As of now, it appears that Cisse will be one of the two asked to carry it.

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