The Green Bay Packers traded Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Keisean Nixon is struggling to process his teammate’s departure.
Green Bay sent Douglas and a 2024 fifth to Buffalo for a 2024 third. Nixon was upset to see the fellow cornerback go.
“I don’t really even have no reaction,” Nixon said, via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman. “I was really lost for words. I mean, I understand it’s a business, but I’m still sick to my stomach.”
Keisean Nixon said the Packers lost “somebody who stabilized the locker room” in trading Rasul Douglas.
“I was really lost for words. I understand it’s a business, but I’m still sick to my stomach, honestly.” pic.twitter.com/zci1rbWiXZ
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 1, 2023
Nixon said Douglas, who was in his third season with the Packers, “stabilized the locker room.” On Tuesday, Nixon posted a broken heart emoji and a photo of Douglas on social media.
💔
— K9 (@keiseannixon) October 31, 2023
— K9 (@keiseannixon) November 1, 2023
Douglas collected 10 interceptions in 36 career games with the Packers. The 29-year-old started seven games this season.
“I’m gonna miss ’Sul a lot just because he always kept me locked in,” Nixon said. “If I get a little sidetracked, ‘Sul’s always the one just to keep me locked in on football, and now my boy not here no more, so it’s gonna be tough trying to figure it out right now.”
Nixon wasn’t only the Packers player disappointed to see Douglas moved. The deal caught Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander off guard.
“I was pretty surprised, to say the least,” Alexander said. “I didn’t expect Rasul to be gone. He’s a vet. He’s made a bunch of plays throughout his time here, but that’s just the NFL.”
The Packers dropped to 2-5 when falling to the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday. Four straight losses before the deadline prompted general manager Brian Gutekunst to move a player on the final year of his contract.
It’s a business, but bidding farewell to a teammate and friend still stings. Green Bay will face the Los Angeles Rams without Douglas this Sunday.