GREEN BAY — Maybe that wasn’t Keisean Nixon running and jumping and smiling his way around the Don Hutson Center on Friday morning. 

Maybe some rogue artificial intelligence agent really did conjure up a hologram of the Green Bay Packers veteran cornerback during the portion of practice open to reporters, and Nixon — listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup between the Packers (5-3) and New England Patriots (5-3) at Gillette Stadium because of a groin injury — wasn’t really there at all.

After all, during a Q&A session at his locker Friday afternoon following practice, Nixon playfully claimed he had no idea what reporters were talking about.

“I was running? You saw that?” Nixon replied. “That was AI. It was AI. It was not me. AI. For sure.

“Whatever y’all are doing to edit those videos is crazy. Y’all are getting good at it, for sure.”

Here’s what isn’t crazy: Since joining the Packers as a free agent in 2022, Nixon has not missed a single game — 80 games, including playoffs, and counting.

And head coach Matt LaFleur, for one, sounds like he’s expecting that streak to continue, even after Nixon did not practice on Thursday and listed as limited on Friday.

“Obviously, it’s always concerning when a guy doesn’t practice on a Thursday,” LaFleur said. “But, if I know Kei like I think I do, I would expect him to put himself in a position to potentially go out there and play.”

Nixon wouldn’t say for certain that he’d play — “I hope I wake up Sunday and I feel good enough to play in the game,” he said — and insisted that he isn’t motivated solely by keeping the streak going.

“It’s not really a streak that means something to me, I just don’t want to not play,” Nixon said. “Technically, I don’t look at it as, ‘Oh, I never miss a game.’ I just want to play every week. So I get my body prepared for it to play. Not missing a game is just because I want to play.”

Through eight games, Nixon has played extremely well. His 70.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus is 20th out of the 102 cornerbacks the site has graded this season.

He has played 550 of the Packers’ 561 defensive snaps so far this season (98.04%) and recorded 45 tackles (second-most on the team), a half-sack, an interception, five tackles for a loss, six pass break-ups and two quarterback hits. He’s allowed 32 receptions in coverage for a 75.4 opponent passer rating when targeted.

“You’re going to give up some plays. That’s life in the NFL,” defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon said of Nixon. “But I think his point of attack is where it needs to be. He’s making a lot of plays for us. I love his demeanor, not only on game day, but during the week of practice. He’s competitive. He really is competitive and he plays the game with an edge. He doesn’t back down. I love that about him.”

Cornerback Keisean Nixon, who in his fifth season with #Packers has never missed a game it is dealing with a groin injury, jokingly blames “AI” for @BillHuberNFL and @RobDemovsky seeing him running and smiling at practice inside the Hutson Center earlier today. https://t.co/KDEObs7UU0

— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) November 6, 2026

Nixon is one of three players listed as questionable for the matchup with the Patriots, along with running back MarShawn Lloyd (knee) and running back Chris Brooks (ankle), although Brooks is still on injured reserve and while he has been designated for return, the Packers would have to make a roster move to activate him.

Meanwhile, the Packers ruled four players out — five if you include first-team All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who started practicing on a limited basis on Wednesday but remains on the physically unable to perform list as he works his way back from last year’s season-ending knee injury.

Also out for Sunday are starting center Sean Rhyan (ankle), starting inside linebacker Zaire Franklin (shin), former starting right guard Travis Glover (knee) and backup tight end Josh Whyle (concussion). None of the four practiced at all this week.

The Patriots, meanwhile, will be without their top two receivers — No. 1 wideout A.J. Brown (knee/ankle), who was ruled out on Friday, and ex-Packers receiver Romeo Doubs, who is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury that has cost him two games already.

Running back TreVeyon Henderson is also out and posted on social media that he has been experiencing “unexplained neurological symptoms” that have affected his strength and coordination.

“He is well loved and respected on our football team,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said.

Tight end Hunter Henry, who leads the team with 29 catches, left Sunday’s win over the Miami Dolphins with a foot injury and is listed as questionable.

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