The Green Bay Packers’ latest young defensive addition kept showing up on Family Night - right until cramps forced him to the sideline.
Brandon Cisse, the second-round pick the Packers used 52nd overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, was active and disruptive during Friday’s practice before leaving near the end with a lower-body issue. The rookie defensive back, a South Carolina product, had already made his presence felt in coverage.
According to Mike Spofford of Green Bay’s official website, Cisse won a pair of 1-on-1 matchups against Christian Watson near the goal line and later knocked away a pass intended for Watson along the sideline during 11-on-11 work.
“I try to go against the best of the best and hold your own and that’s what I’m trying to do every day,” the cornerback said. “I’ve still got a long way to go, trying to get better.”
The exit looked concerning in the moment, but Cisse said afterward it was nothing more than cramps. Via Jason B. Hirschhorn of The Leap on X:
Packers CB Brandon Cisse on dropping out of the Family Night practice:
“Nothing serious at all. Just cramping.
They just held me out precautionary. I tried to go back in.
Just precautionary stuff.”
Cisse also said he got a gash in his leg, but he’s “all good.”
Cisse arrived in Green Bay after two seasons at NC State and then a transfer to South Carolina. In 34 college games, he posted two interceptions, 65 combined tackles and 10 passes defended.
In Other News...
Packers Suddenly Face A Luke Musgrave Problem They Can't Ignore
Luke Musgraves path back has become a quiet but important storyline for Green Bay as training camp chatter turns into roster reality. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said the tight end is dealing with a neck injury and will need additional time before the team can get a better read on where he stands, a development that adds more uncertainty to a player who has yet to have that breakthrough season many expected after he arrived as a 2023 draft pick.
The timing makes it harder for the Packers to simply wait and see. Musgrave is in the final year of his rookie deal, and Green Bay is already keeping an eye on Tucker Krafts recovery with a longer-term return target in mind for 2026. For a tight end room that was supposed to offer some clarity by now, Musgraves situation leaves the Packers balancing patience with the need to plan for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Family Night Put Several Rising Names Under A Brighter Spotlight
Family Night at Lambeau Field gave the Packers a useful mid-summer snapshot of where several rising names stand, and the setting made the evaluations feel a little more real. Rookie kicker Trey Smack was steady in his work, connecting on six of seven field goals, while wide receiver Matthew Golden added one of the evenings louder moments with a 52-yard touchdown catch that turned heads in the crowd.
Not every rep went cleanly, of course, and that was part of the point of the workout. Cornerback Keisean Nixon had some less successful moments, and offensive lineman Anthony Belton also had a tougher stretch, reminders that these practices can amplify both progress and imperfections when the lights are on at Lambeau. [Read more 🡒]