GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers will have a joint practice with the Seahawks in Green Bay on Thursday and then play a preseason game against them on Saturday afternoon at Lambeau Field.
The departure of Jaire Alexander means that Keisean Nixon will be tasked with being the Packers’ top cornerback and defending the opponent’s number one receiver. Nixon feels he’s ready.
“In all reality, I think every game is a big game in the NFL,” said Nixon. “There’s players everywhere, especially for me playing corner and being the guy. I gotta see everybody’s top dude every week and every game. We got somebody that come in here, or we go there and they got a guy on their team. I think it’s a big game regardless of who it is. My confidence level is just through the roof right now, so it doesn’t really matter who’s going to be out there; they’re going to have to see me just like I gotta see them.”
Nixon believes that the Packers’ secondary will be up to the challenge.
“We’re coming to play,” said Nixon. “I know a lot of people are like, skeptical of losing Jaire, but that just comes with the territory in the game. In reality, it’s been the same unit (because of Alexander’s injuries) it was last year. We’re coming to play. They’ll figure it out.”
It may still be preseason, but Nixon admits to thinking and watching tape of the Lions, the Packers’ opponent in the regular season opener. Detroit is also the defending division champs who beat the Packers twice last season.
“I’ve never stopped,” said Nixon. “I’ve been watching film since we got back, honestly. Just seeing what we did wrong last year and trying to fix it, but also worrying about the practices we’ve been having with other teams, getting ready for that. Yeah, I ain’t stop watching film of the Lions.”
After the end of last season, Nixon expressed a feeling that he shouldn’t have to do returns if he’s the top corner. With Mecole Hardman on the bubble, Nixon has softened that stance.
“I don’t ever want to take myself out of the return game,” said Nixon this week. “I know playing corner is like a heavy load on myself already, but I know my ego’s not going to let me, game on the line, I’m going with the ball in my hands. At the end of the day, I don’t think nobody can mess with me when I got the ball in my hands. It’s just being a Swiss Army knife, being able to do it. Some of the greats did it, Deion, Charles Woodson, stuff like that, I just want to put my name in that hat.”
Nixon feels he’s been “slept on” his entire career and has met each challenge by working every day.