GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers aren’t anticipating to have cornerback Jaire Alexander for the remainder of the season, coach Matt LaFleur mentioned Wednesday.
That ended greater than a two-month saga wherein the previous All-Professional has tried to come back again from what he mentioned was a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his proper knee. He sustained the harm Oct. 27 in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars however was not positioned on injured reserve as a result of the crew thought it was a short-term harm.
LaFleur mentioned Alexander underwent surgical procedure and was “more than likely” accomplished for the season. A supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the one hope for Alexander to return could be if the Packers made the Tremendous Bowl. A supply mentioned the surgical procedure that Alexander underwent Tuesday was arthroscopic in nature and thus not a serious reconstructive process.
“It is unlucky,” LaFleur mentioned Wednesday. “It’s what it’s. I really feel for him. Clearly, he was making an attempt to get his knee proper, it wasn’t getting proper, and so, yeah, it is a powerful deal for all of us.”
Alexander missed the sport instantly after the harm however returned following the Packers’ bye week to play briefly Nov. 17 in opposition to the Chicago Bears. Nevertheless, he performed solely 10 snaps in that recreation earlier than he dropped out. He hasn’t performed since, though he had been working towards for a number of weeks — generally at the same time as a full participant — solely to be dominated out every week.
When requested Monday whether or not there was a distinction of opinion between how Alexander views his harm in contrast with how the crew and its medical doctors view it, LaFleur mentioned: “I can not actually get into all that. I do know that he is been coping with swelling, and, you recognize, he would not really feel proper to go on the market and play.”
Alexander, an All-Professional in 2020 and 2022, has performed in solely 14 regular-season video games over the previous two seasons. Because the begin of the 2021 season, when he appeared in solely 4 regular-season video games due to a shoulder harm, he has performed in simply 34 of a doable 68 regular-season video games, together with Sunday’s finale in opposition to the Bears. A kind of missed video games was to serve a suspension final season for conduct detrimental to the crew.
In seven video games this season, Alexander has two interceptions, together with a pick-six in Week 3 in opposition to the Tennessee Titans.
The Packers are anticipated to proceed with the trio of Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Eric Stokes as their prime three cornerbacks. Valentine has had an interception in two of the previous three video games.
“I have been right here with Ja, so I’ve seen Ja my rookie 12 months out with a shoulder Week 4 vs. the Steelers,” Stokes mentioned. “After which after that, it is simply little knickknacks. I understand how badly he needs to be on the market. The second I discovered, I used to be identical to, ‘Dang.’ I despatched him a textual content. ‘I understand how you’re feeling. I do know what sort of participant you is. I do know you actually wish to be on the market for us’ and all that stuff. He mentioned, ‘Something y’all need assistance with, simply hit me. I’ll be there.’ Nonetheless having him there’s large.”
It is doable Alexander, a first-round choose in 2018, may have performed his final soccer for the Packers. He nonetheless has two years left on the four-year, $84 million contract extension he signed in 2022, however with no assured cash on the deal, the Packers may determine to let him go. If he is on the crew, he’s scheduled to make $17.5 million subsequent season and $19.5 million in 2026.
Whereas LaFleur mentioned he intends to deal with Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Bears like another regardless that the Packers (11-5) have already clinched a playoff spot and all that is left to find out is whether or not they would be the NFC’s No. 6 or No. 7 seed, he mentioned Wednesday that he’ll “be aware of each state of affairs and guys which might be coping with stuff.”
Those that didn’t follow Wednesday included these starters or key contributors: security Zayne Anderson (concussion), defensive finish Brenton Cox Jr. (foot), receiver Christian Watson (knee), linebacker Quay Walker (ankle) and security Evan Williams (quadriceps).
