Matt LaFleur admits he deserves criticism for flaw fixed far too late

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur admitted that the team has been underutilizing their secret weapon on special teams: Keisean Nixon.

Special teams units often get overlooked in NFL analysis, with the game-changing contributions usually going under the radar.

This time, it’s a team that overlooked what one special returner could bring to the table in Green Bay.

During their Monday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Rams, the Packers decided to employ Keisean Nixon on returns. The decision was met with resounding and consistent success: Nixon returned three kickoffs for 95 yards and two punts for 36 yards. Plays like that dramatically altered the Packers positioning, putting them in a prime place to score. Nixon’s returns laid the groundwork for a win the Packers desperately needed, and for that, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur admits regret in not playing him sooner.

“I know, we’re probably going to get criticized for not playing him early, and that’s fair,” LaFleur said following the game. “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.”

Matt Lafleur admits Keisean Nixon is the secret weapon the Packers needed — and overlooked

To some degree, being overlooked is nothing new for Nixon. The 25-year-old missed his senior year of high school football due to a broken collarbone, which led to two years at Arizona Western College. Nixon transferred to South Carolina, playing primarily on special teams and as a reserve defensive back.

He went undrafted in 2019 before signing with the Oakland Raiders. While Nixon recorded a few tackles and returned kicks during his rookie year, he was quiet during his remainder with the Raiders. Nixon then signed with the Packers in March 2022.

This isn’t the first game where Nixon has made an impact in a crucial win. In their 14-12 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Nixon recorded seven combined tackles and a forced fumble. The Packers even wrote about how Nixon is playing well as a nickel corner this season, too.

Keisean Nixon may have been overlooked early in college and through the draft, but he’s finally gotten some deserved shine as a Packer — one LaFleur is going to need if Green Bay wants to make playoffs.