Packers Cornerback Battle Heats Up: Cisse, St-Juste, and Nixon Fight for Starting Jobs

This was supposed to be a quiet, uneventful summer in Green Bay, where most starting jobs seemed settled a month ago. Instead, several positional battles have unfolded. Here’s a look at those, and a prediction of how they’ll end.

Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine were the starters in 2025. Both could be coming off the bench, or in different uniforms in 2026. Rookie second-round draft pick Brandon Cisse has had a strong camp, and even though he’s raw and just turned 21, he’s likely to start in Week 1 in Minnesota.

“I put in a lot of time,” said Cisse, who’s been praised for his study habits and attention to detail. “I try to grow really every day, get better at something.”

The other cornerback job is a tight one between Nixon and free agent acquisition Benjamin St-Juste. Nixon started 17 games last season, was up and down, but was still Green Bay’s best corner. That’s why it was surprising when he lost some first-team reps to St-Juste after Green Bay’s Family Night on Aug. 5.

“They ain't really told me nothing,” Nixon said of Green Bay’s coaches. “I'm just … every day I find out a different thing, and I just attack it. I don't care what it is, whether it's me taking reps on special teams, whatever it is. I attack it, though. I'm here. Can't really run me off, so I'm ready to play ball.”

St-Juste, a third-round draft pick, St-Juste’s best season was probably with the Chargers in 2025, when he ranked 12th among all 114 qualifying corners. Nixon ranked 40th and Valentine was 44th.

Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur said Sunday, “we need corners that are willing and capable tacklers.” St-Juste’s missed tackle rate in 2025 was 3.2%, Nixon’s was 4.9% and Valentine’s was 21.3%.

St-Juste’s score on the 50-question Wonderlic test was 21, while Valentine scored a 13 and Nixon had an eight.

“I mean, the coaches ae going to decide that,” St-Juste said of the cornerback battle. “I show up every day. They text me if I'm rotating with what group I'm rotating, and it could be like that during the season.”

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“We'll see. Honestly, like they make the decision. Players don't really make that. So all I can do really is just go out there and be the best player I can. Be the best teammate I can.”

Week 1 starters — Cisse and St-Juste

Green Bay gave Aaron Banks a four-year, $77 million free agent contract in March, 2025. In his short time as a Packer, Banks has been in and out of the lineup with back, ankle, groin, and now a knee injury.

Banks has only done individual work this camp, opening the door for rookie Jager Burton to challenge for the job.

On Aug. 14, LaFleur was asked if Burton is making this a hard decision for Green Bay’s coaches?

“I think he's going to make it extremely difficult,” LaFleur said. “I think Jager has done a really good job. You know (Banks) hasn't been out there, so it's hard to say.”

Banks recently said, “I should be out there full go Like, I have no concerns for the start of the season.”

If that’s the case, Banks will almost certainly be the starter.