David Bakhtiari can do it all.
He once recruited Zlatan Ibrahimovic to become a Green Bay Packers fan. He turned elite pass-rushers into mere bystanders. Now, he's shining a bright light on a Keisean Nixon reality that Packers fans have been calling out for years. One the team is only now realizing.
No matter what the Packers have said and how they've used Nixon since Jaire Alexander's departure last summer, he is not a CB1. That's not a particularly controversial statement – at least it shouldn't be – although many inside the walls of 1265 Lombardi Ave have long needed to hear it.
"He's a CB2/3 with return ability (special teams ace). That's how I'd roster him," Bakhtiari posted on X (formerly Twitter) this week.
That's how the Packers should've rostered him all along, but the whole situation took a bizarre turn in January 2025. Despite becoming a two-time first-team All-Pro returner in Green Bay, Nixon said publicly that he no longer wanted to return kicks and instead wanted to be the Packers' CB1. He stated that "CB1 is not doing kick returns."
And then the Packers just, granted his wish?!
"I get his perspective. He WANTS to not be a kick returner anymore. (To focus on and be paid as a pure CB)," Bakhtiari added. "He NEEDS to be a kick returner till he can solidify being a trusted CB1/2."
The ship may have sailed on Nixon retaining the CB1 job this season after Brandon Cisse's rapid rise throughout training camp. Cisse was initially expected to compete for the starting job alongside Nixon, but it appears he's now taken the top spot on the depth chart.
Where that leaves Nixon is still somewhat of a mystery, a puzzle the Packers haven't yet come to grips with. There's mixed messaging, both from the team's usage of him at practice and their comments to reporters.
The Packers may have finally learned their lesson on Keisean Nixon, but what exactly is his role?
Lock Cisse into the starting lineup. That's the one constant from practice. No matter how many different variations the Packers have experimented with in recent weeks, it's Cisse, and Cisse alone, who is the ever-present cornerback in the first-team lineup.
Nixon's role? Your guess is as good as mine.
The veteran has remained a regular in the first-team secondary next to Cisse, but his performances seemingly haven't fully convinced head coach Matt LaFleur or defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
According to Andy Herman of the Pack-A-Day Podcast, Nixon spent time alongside MJ Devonshire and the third-team defense during Wednesday's practice. He also got reps with the starters and second-team unit.
Herman noted that Nixon was beaten by Savion Williams "for a big gain" during his stint with the third-teamers.
He's lost his fair share of battles at camp. Even undrafted rookie J. Michael Sturdivant and backup receiver Bo Melton got the upper hand on Nixon during one-on-ones this week, per Kevin Robinson of Sleeper.
Nixon's struggles were on full display during the preseason opener, where he badly missed a tackle on rookie receiver Germie Bernard on what ended up being a 25-yard gain. Worse still, the veteran seemingly showed little effort in trying to bring down Bernard before he broke free. That won't cut it. Not in the preseason. Certainly not in the real games.
"I guess I'm being punished right now, I guess, I don't know," Nixon said about his usage at practice.
That's one way of putting it, I guess. The alternative and more accurate view comes from Bakhtiari. Nixon isn't a CB1. He's a backup/fringe starter who should star as an All-Pro returner.
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