Green Bay Packers cornerback Kesiean Nixon is battling to hold onto his starting job.
Getty ImagesThis was supposed to be a quiet, uneventful summer in Green Bay — where most starting jobs seemed settled a month ago.
Or so we thought.
Instead, several positional battles have unfolded. Here’s a look at those, and a prediction of how they’ll end.
CORNERBACK
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 by Washington in 2021, has had an up and down career with the Commanders and the Los Angeles Chargers. St-Juste’s best season, though, was probably with the Chargers in 2025, when he ranked 12th among all 114 qualifying corners by Pro Football Focus. 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.
“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.”
Prediction
Week 1 starters — Cisse and St-Juste
LEFT GUARD
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 by the end of camp for sure. Like, I have no concerns for the start of the season.”
If that’s the case, Banks will almost certainly be the starter.
You don’t pay a player $19.25 million a season and give up on him after a year. The Packers would also take a $12 million salary cap hit by moving on from him later this month.
And while Banks was dinged much of last season, he settled in and played much better down the stretch.
Burton could turn into a fifth round steal. He’s smart, physical, athletic and a future starter.
In 2026, though, Burton will likely begin the year as the No. 3 guard.
“I just want to make our room as good as it can be,” Burton said. “If that's me playing. If that's me pushing guys or creating whatever, you know, at the end of the day, they brought me here to help them win football games or whatever role that is.
“So that's what I want to do. That's all I care about is winning games and making the Packers the best team. So whatever they need me to do to do that.”
Prediction
Week 1 starter — Banks
KICKER
Rookie sixth round draft pick Trey Smack seems to be settling in after a rocky start.
Smack made 6-of-7 kicks at Green Bay’s Family Night practice held inside Lambeau Field.
Smack went 3-for-3 in Green Bay’s preseason opener against Pittsburgh, making kicks from 58, 38 and 37 yards. Smack also made another 58-yarder that the Packers took off the board following a Pittsburgh penalty.
He followed that by going 4-for-4 at practice on Aug. 16.
The Packers believe they have a championship level team, so if Smack struggles in the final 10 days of camp, they could look for a veteran. But Green Bay would much rather let Stack grow, like it once did with kickers Chris Jacke, Ryan Longwell and Mason Crosby.
“I mean there's no question he's got the talent,” LaFleur said of Smack. “And it's just I think in particular the kicking position, it's the consistency at which you do it.”
Prediction
Week 1 starter — Smack
RIGHT GUARD
Anthony Belton, a second round draft pick in 2025, started the final six games at this spot last season and was the odds-on favorite here when camp began.
Belton struggled early, though, was replaced by Jacob Monk and the competition seems largely settled.
Monk has been firmly entrenched with the No. 1 offensive line, while Belton appears likely to be the Packers’ swing tackle. Belton could make a late push, but for now, it appears to be Monk’s job to lose.
“I just want to be consistent in everything I do,” Monk said. “I think they’ve always known I’m going to play hard, I’m going to give everything I have. But I just want to show them I can be consistent with everything too.”
Prediction
Week 1 starter — Monk
This article was originally published on Forbes.com