GREEN BAY, Wisconsin: Jaire Alexander, the top cornerback for the Green Bay Packers, looked to be recovering from the back ailment that had held him out of three games this season, but it looks like he may miss another one.
Due to a shoulder injury, he received during Sunday’s victory over the Los Angeles Rams, the two-time Pro Bowler did not practice this week and is not expected to play this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The injury report released on Friday listed him as uncertain.
Alexander would need to improve his shoulder’s range of motion before he can play again, a source told ESPN on Friday. Alexander is not expected to be placed on injured reserve, which would force him to miss at least four games.
According to the source, Alexander’s 2021 shoulder injury, which sidelined him for the majority of the season, is not this one.
Alexander played every defensive action in the game against the Rams until the end. According to the source, he was hurt diving to try to make a play in the second half.
Just a month prior, Joe Barry, the defensive coordinator, referred to the Packers’ abundance of cornerbacks as “champagne problems” as he struggled to find a way to start them all. Eric Stokes, who suffered a foot injury last season, was about to come off injured reserve at that same moment. After that, Rasul Douglas was traded to the Bills, Alexander sustained another injury, and Stokes suffered another injury (a hamstring strain) and is now on injured reserve.
According to Packers coach Matt LaFleur, “I think anytime you’re going through it, that’s the nature of our game in some respects,” on Friday. Many of these males are suffering from aches, pains or injuries. That is football as a sport.”
Last week, Carrington Valentine, a rookie selected in the seventh round by the Packers, started opposite Alexander at cornerback. At the other cornerback position, it might be Robert Rochell, who was released from the Panthers practice squad on October 25, or Corey Ballentine, who was initially a member of the Packers practice squad last season. Keisean Nixon is anticipated to remain the third cornerback in the nickel package by the Packers.
Linebacker Quay Walker, another defensive starter, was also marked as doubtful after missing the whole practice week. Walker did not attend the Rams game either.
Three prospective starting offensive linemen, Josh Myers (knee), Yosh Nijman (back), and Jon Runyan (neck), were among the five players the Packers designated as questionable. Two additional starting defensive players were doubtful: Rudy Ford (calf) and Kenny Clark (shoulder).