For the first time since 2005, the Green Bay Packers might not have at least a player representing them in the Pro Bowl. But one name in particular was bizarrely snubbed: returner Keisean Nixon.

On Wednesday, the NFL announced the list for the Pro Bowl games, which will be held one week before the Super Bowl in February. The Packers had no selections, only alternates.

Edge defender Rashan Gary is the first alternate as outside linebacker. Defensive tackle Kenny Clark, cornerback Jaire Alexander, guard Elgton Jenkins, and return specialist Keisean Nixon are also alternates.

The case for Nixon

Ok, we know the Pro Bowl is a popularity contest. But Keisean Nixon was a First-Team All-Pro last year. Fellow players and coaches, at least, should know better.

The NFC return specialist will be New Orleans Saints' wide receiver Rashid Shaheed. He's a better punt returner than Nixon, to be fair, but he doesn't even lead the league in punt return yards — he's behind Britain Covey from the Philadelphia Eagles and Derius Davis from the Los Angeles Chargers.

Meanwhile, even before the week 18 game against the Chicago Bears, Nixon has had 29 kickoff returns for 761 yards (26.2 yards per return). No other player in the NFL has reached 500 yards returning kickoff in 2023.

Combining Shaheed's yards returning both kickoffs and punts, and it's still fewer yards and Nixon only with kickoffs.

And Nixon also returned punts eventually this year. He's had 14 punt returns for 95 yards (6.8 per punt).

"That was really important," Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said of Nixon after re-signing him. "He made such a big difference for our football team last year with what he was able to do not only in the nickel, but he's a good return specialist and did different things on teams. He is one of the better gunners in the NFL."

Keisean Nixon has played 46.47% of the Packers special teams snaps. This is the highest number among Packers cornerbacks, which is particularly relevant because he is also a defensive starter.

It's not the first time Nixon is snubbed from the Pro Bowl. In 2022, he led the league in kickoff return yards and made the First-Team All-Pro, but wasn't selected to the All-Star game.

Money

The Pro Bowl was important for Nixon because it would have secured him an extra $250k in incentives. Now, even if he gets in as an alternate, he doesn't get the money.

When the Packers gave him a one-year contract last offseason, Nixon got $4 million in guarantees, plus $2 million available in incentives. He still might get more money via playing time and interceptions.

Keisean Nixon went undrafted in 2019 and signed with the Oakland Raiders right thereafter — he moved with the team to Las Vegas a year later. There, he played under special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, who eventually became an interim head coach.

When the Packers hired Bisaccia in 2022, he indicated Nixon to the front office, and they signed him to a one-year deal. The parties agreed to a new pact in 2023, and he's slated to be a free agent once again next offseason.

Pro Bowl tradition

The Packers had had Pro Bowl players every year since 2006. Since 1950, Green Bay only didn't have Pro Bowlers in 1976, 1977, 1979, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1999, and 2005. Last year, cornerback Jaire Alexander and offensive guard Elgton Jenkins made the team.

Jordan Love can make a lot of money in one game

Love signed a one-year extension with the Packers last offseason