Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said he doesn’t believe cornerback Jaire Alexander, who missed Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings with quadriceps and groin injuries, will be out of the lineup long term. In fact, the Packers do not rule out that he will play against the Los Angeles Rams this week.
“I don’t think it’s going to be something too significant or too long-term,” LaFleur said Sunday. “We’ll see if he’s available this week or not.”
Alexander was narrow during Wednesday and Thursday practices with a quadriceps injury, but then missed Friday practice with a fresh groin injury. LaFleur said the groin injury occurred during Thursday’s practice.
“It happened while playing in training. It’s part of football,” LaFleur said.
Alexander was listed as questionable but ultimately became inactive. It’s possible that the injury occurred over time – so behind schedule in the week – and a combination of lower body injuries prevented Alexander from being physically ready for the game.
Carrington Valentine was also inactive with a recurring ankle injury. As a result, the Packers had Eric Stokes and Corey Ballentine as their starting perimeter defenders, and Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison caught touchdown passes in the first half of Minnesota’s 31-29 victory.
Alexander missed nine games with a combined back and shoulder injury and a one-game suspension in 2023, as well as 13 games with a stern shoulder injury in 2021. He finished second in each of his last full seasons, in 2020 and 2022 All-Pro team selection.
The Packers won’t practice again until Wednesday, when the first injury report from Week 5 comes out. Real information on Alexander’s status on Sunday may not come until Friday, after the final injury report.
Elsewhere on the injury front, LaFleur’s team is currently dealing with ankle injuries to both Christian Watson and Devonte Wyatt. It is possible that Watson will be placed on injured reserve.
