GREEN BAY (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.<\/p>\n
Nixon, an All-Pro kickoff returner in 2022 and 2023, said the day after the Packers\u2019 22-10 playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that he\u2019s \u201ckind of through with\u201d returning kicks. Nixon had a different take on the subject Tuesday while speaking during the Packers\u2019 organized team activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, I\u2019m open to it,\u201d Nixon said. \u201cI\u2019m always going to do what the team needs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nixon\u2019s reluctance about returning kicks stemmed in part because of his increasing role on defense. Nixon said at the time that \u201cI want to be CB1\u201d and added that \u201cCB1 is not doing kick returns. That\u2019s just what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a comment I probably could have kept to myself, for sure, but it is what it is,\u201d Nixon said Tuesday. \u201cI meant what I said, but I\u2019m also a team player. And if the coach and the team need me to do something, I\u2019m going to do it, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nixon also wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t want to risk the possibility that he makes a big play.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rule change don\u2019t matter,\u201d Nixon said. \u201cI don\u2019t think they\u2019ll fully kick me the ball. They\u2019d rather (us) get it at the 35 than give it at the 50.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Packers have other options to return kicks. Green Bay added former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman<\/a>, who has 45 career kick returns and 89 punt returns. The two receivers Green Bay drafted \u2013 Matthew Golden in the first round and Savion Williams in the third \u2013 had experience returning kicks in college.<\/p>\n Nixon wants to build on what he accomplished on defense last year.<\/p>\n