Special teams have been a problem for the Green Bay Packers for years. Finally, in 2022, the unit took a step forward under new special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. One reason for the improvement was the outstanding performance of kick returner Keisean Nixon. But what is a full season of Nixon worth to the Packers?
Keisean Nixon’s Remarkable 2022 Season with the Packers
Nixon was named All Pro as a return specialist in 2022 despite not running back only one kick in the first seven games of the season. After Amari Rodgers was finally released, Nixon took over and ended up gaining more than 1,000 yards to lead the league.
He scored a touchdown on a 105-yard return in the Packers 41-17 win in Week 17 over the Vikings. He also had a 93-yard return the previous week against the Miami Dolphins that set up a field goal by Mason Crosby.
Nixon gave the Packers a bold and daring return man who was unafraid to run the ball out of the end zone. He created excellent field position for an offense that struggled with inconsistency all season. It is no coincidence that Nixon’s emergence as a return specialist coincided with the Packers late-game winning streak that allowed them to force a win and you’re in season finale against Detroit.
For the season, Nixon led the league with 1,009 kick return yards and averaged 28.8-yards per runback.
Appreciation for Keisean Nixon
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur showed appreciation for what Nixon added to the team last season.
“I know, we’re probably going to get criticized for not playing him early, and that’s fair,” LaFleur told reporters. “We should have had him in there earlier and we didn’t. I don’t think we knew what we had. He’s proven what he brings to the table. Can’t say enough about what he brings to this team.”
Former quarterback Aaron Rodgers was also impressed by Nixon’s performance.
“He’s been so important for us changing the kicking game,” Rodgers said. “For a long time here, and I don’t mean this as disrespect, but it’s just the facts, for a long time when that ball is up in the air on kickoff, I’m thinking, ‘stay in, stay in, don’t bring it out,’ because just not a lot of good stuff happens. But I always tell Kei now when he’s about to go out there, ‘bring it out,’ just because he brings an extra type of juice to our football team. And you can win with guys like that. Guys that care about it, guys that are tough, and guys that make big-time plays.”
What Nixon Could Mean to the Packers This Season
The 2023 Packers face a different outlook in 2023. The offense will no longer feature Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP under center. Former first-round pick Jordan Love will be the starter. Love has only one career NFL start under his belt and is taking over after sitting behind Rodgers for the first three seasons of his career.
Getting good field position may be even more important to the Packers offense this year than it was a year ago even though Rodgers was thoroughly average last year, and the offense was inconsistent.
Having a daring and outstanding kick returner will be vital for the Love and the Packers offense and the team is optimistic that Nixon will deliver another outstanding season in his second year in the role.
__________________________________________________________________________
Contact/follow us @Packer_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to our Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Green Bay Packers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
Follow this link and use promo code: BADGERNOTES for 25% off your next True Classic order.
Join our watch party on Playback Sports and stream Packers games by following this link
