Packers’ McKinney Adjusts Amid Fewer Interceptions This Season

Green Bay, Wisconsin — Five games into the 2024 NFL season, Packers safety Xavier McKinney had five interceptions. In contrast, during the same stretch of the 2025 season, he managed only one interception.

After earning first-team All-Pro honors for the 2024 season, McKinney is experiencing a shift in how opposing quarterbacks approach him. He remarked, “Being respected by NFL quarterbacks is cool, but it’s boring. Especially with how we’re playing, it can get kind of boring back there a little bit.”

McKinney aims to stay involved in the game despite less ball activity. Opposing quarterbacks have thrown to receivers covered by him, resulting in a decreased passing-efficiency rating. He acknowledged, “Don’t get as many opps as we did last year. But I also think on the opps that we do get, we got to capitalize.”

With Micah Parsons joining Green Bay this season, McKinney noted that teams are releasing passes faster due to the Packers’ improved pass rush. He stated, “We just got to try to keep finding ways to punch at the ball, and when they do throw the ball deep, we got to capitalize on those opportunities.”

Despite the challenges, McKinney remains optimistic that turnovers will come as the season progresses. “I think, eventually, we’ll start getting some of these turnovers and the ball’ll start rolling our way,” he added.

Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said the team is working to get McKinney more involved. “We’ve moved him around, and like today, him and I talked about plans to move him around,” Hafley said.

Green Bay holds a 3-1-1 record as they prepare to face the Arizona Cardinals at 3:25 p.m. CDT on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals are currently 2-4, having lost their last four games.

McKinney emphasized the importance of focusing on their own game plan, saying, “We got to control what we can control, and that’s how we go out there and play.”