The Green Bay Packers entered training camp with major concerns at cornerback. The team still lacks an elite cover corner although GM Brian Gutekunst addressed the position by signing a free agent and adding two draft picks including the team’s first pick in this year’s draft including second round pick Brandon Cisse. After one week, the battle for playing time and roles is taking shape. Here is the latest update on the Packers position battle at cornerback now that training camp is under way.
The Latest Update on the Packers Position Battle at Cornerback: The Starting Point
Last season, Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine were the starters. The Packers signed Nate Hobbs with the hope he would compete for a major role, but injuries hampered Hobbs and he was not a good fit on the boundary.
Nixon was inconsistent throughout the season. He got off to a fast start and broke up a career-high 17 passes but also got beaten far too often for big plays, took unnecessary penalties and often made “business decisions” instead of tacking.
Valentine was also inconsistent. His coverage was good, but he struggled to track the ball in the air. He also was ranked as a poor tackler.
Over the offseason, Gutekunst signed Benjamin St-Juste as a free agent and parted ways with Hobbs. He also used a second-round pick on Cisse and a sixth-round selection on Domani Jackson. The goal was to improve the position that hurt the team down the stretch last season after Micah Parsons suffered a season-ending injury and the pass rush tailed off.
What We’ve Seen at Training Camp Thus Far
Things have developed quickly at training camp this season. Valentine has missed time with a hamstring injury. That has given Cisse an opportunity to work with the first team sooner than he likely would have if Valentine remained healthy.
Cisse has played well and gotten the attention of the coaching staff. “What a great situation for us to have him in, going against our best, going against Jordan [Love] and the other receivers out there,” head coach Matt LaFleur said Tuesday. “So, he’ll just get more and more reps.”
The reps have paid off as Cisse has done a good job in practice and demonstrated the right attitude, even when he does occasionally get beaten.
“Every time I go to practice, you treat it like it’s a Super Bowl so, when the game comes, it’s a lot easy flowing. You kind of treat those moments like it’s your last chance to play the game, and sometimes your actions need to reflect that. And that’s kind of how I’ve been trying to grow. And every day, just taking every game rep, even when I’m tired, you know, not losing technique and trusting my ability, and keep learning.”
Meanwhile, Nixon has been struggling a bit, getting beaten in practice by both Christian Watson and rookie J. Michael Sturdivant. Nixon’s starting job remains secure, but 2026 will be the final year of his current contract so he has a lot to play for.
St-Juste has also played well in camp so far, mostly playing behind Nixon with the second team defense.
The Latest Update on the Packers Position Battle at Cornerback: The Outlook
The injury to Valentine gives Cisse a big chance to play a bigger role as a rookie. He will need to continue to play well and improve his play in zone coverage. In college, he excelled in press man.
Valentine will return eventually and should carve out some kind of role for himself. Barring injury, Nixon likely continues to be the team’s top cover corner, largely by default. St-Juste remains a steady veteran presence who will play a role.
The future belongs to Cisse if he can make the successful adjustment to the NFL. He has elite athleticism but needs to improve his technique and get comfortable in the defense.
The Packers need their cornerbacks to be better this season, especially early in the year before Parsons returns to the lineup. We’ll soon see if this group is equal to the task.
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