The Green Bay Packers are set to navigate the postseason without two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander, who will undergo surgery to address a knee injury that has sidelined him for most of the past two months.Packers head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed on Wednesday that Alexander is expected to miss the remainder of the season. “Most likely, he’s going to be done for the rest of the year,” LaFleur stated.
Alexander’s knee injury first emerged during a 24-14 loss to the Detroit Lions on November 3. After a bye week, he returned for a matchup against the Chicago Bears, but managed only 10 defensive snaps before the injury forced him out for the remainder of the game, which the Packers won 20-19. Since then, he has missed six consecutive games.“It’s the situation,” LaFleur said. “It stinks that we’re here, but we’re here.”
Alexander’s absence poses a significant challenge for the Packers as they aim for a Super Bowl run as a wild card team. Currently, the Packers (11-5) are positioned as the NFC’s No. 7 seed, which would require them to open the playoffs on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles (13-3). However, they could secure the No. 6 seed with a victory over the Bears (4-12) on Sunday, coupled with a loss by the Washington Commanders at Dallas.
Defensively, the Packers rank 17th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game, a vulnerability that was highlighted in their recent 27-25 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, where quarterback Sam Darnold threw for a career-high 377 yards.Despite the setback, the Packers remain optimistic about their playoff prospects with the available defensive backs. “I have full trust in the guys in our room,” said safety Xavier McKinney. “We have a lot of talented guys who are smart and can adjust on the fly. I feel good about our group.”
With Alexander out, 2023 seventh-round draft pick Carrington Valentine and 2021 first-round pick Eric Stokes will see increased playing time. Valentine played every defensive snap against the Vikings and recorded his second interception in three games.“It’s really a next-man-up mentality,” Valentine noted. “We’re always going to compete and put our best foot forward.”
At 27, Alexander has been recognized as one of the league’s premier cover corners when healthy, but his availability has been limited. Over the past four seasons, he has played in only 34 regular-season games. He missed the majority of the 2021 season due to a shoulder injury and faced additional challenges in 2022 with a back issue and a one-game suspension.
“I know how badly he wants to be out there,” Stokes expressed. “The moment I found out, I was just like, ‘Dang.’ I sent him a text saying I know what kind of player he is and how much he wants to help us. He responded, ‘Anything y’all need help with, just hit me. I’m going to be there.’”
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