One preseason game was enough for Brandon Cisse to keep building his case in Green Bay.
The rookie cornerback turned in a steady showing in the Packers’ preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the night only sharpened the contrast with Keisean Nixon. Cisse didn’t stuff the stat sheet with eye-popping plays, but he made the kind of timely stop that matters, leveling Steelers running back Lew Nichols to keep him out of the end zone. More importantly, he stayed composed, held his ground and avoided the kind of breakdown that can sink a corner’s night.
Nixon, on the other hand, kept giving Packers fans more reason to worry. His training-camp issues carried right into the preseason, capped by a rough miscue that opened the door for a big gain after the catch. The receiver was already uncovered to start the play, which only made the mistake look worse.
That sequence fit the broader picture around Green Bay’s cornerback battle. Cisse has been trending upward for weeks, and his performance against Pittsburgh only strengthened the sense that he’s ready to start. Nixon’s struggles, paired with Cisse’s clean play, have made the rookie’s path to a starting role look about as clear as it can get - and the conversation may already be shifting toward CB1.
It would be too simple to reduce everything to two snaps, but the game echoed what’s been showing up all summer. Nixon has looked out of place.
Cisse has looked dialed in. The rookie has been winning his matchups, staying glued in coverage and generally playing like the most reliable corner on the roster.
Nixon, meanwhile, has even been getting beat by Bo Melton in practice.
There’s also the matter of Carrington Valentine, who is still dealing with a hamstring injury. Cisse stepped in for him in practice and hasn’t given the job back. Valentine hasn’t had much of a chance to answer the bell, but the second-round rookie has taken advantage of every opening and looks like he’s matching the hype.
From OTAs through camp and now into the preseason, Cisse has taken the uncertainty out of the equation. His instincts and quickness fit what defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon wants, and his rise has made the depth chart look a lot less complicated than it did a few weeks ago.
The other open question is whether Benjamin St-Juste can jump Nixon for the remaining starting job. Against Pittsburgh, St-Juste stayed on the field into the second half and delivered a strong run-down tackle to prevent a score, while avoiding any major mistakes.
That battle still has time to play out. Cisse’s, though, looks increasingly settled. He keeps stacking good reps, and he’s done it faster than even many optimistic Packers fans probably expected.
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