The Green Bay Packers can’t say whether cornerback Jaire Alexander will play again this season, a concerning development as Matt LaFleur’s team approaches the postseason.
The numbers from Next Gen Stats paint a pretty clear picture of the Packers’ defense with and without No. 23.
With Alexander on the field this season, the Packers have allowed seven touchdown passes and intercepted eight passes while completing a 61.0 percent completion percentage and a 77.5 passer rating. Completion percentage would rank second among all teams; the passer rating would be best in the NFL by almost five points. Basically, the Packers were an elite pass defense with Alexander.
However, with Alexander not on the field, the Packers have allowed 15 touchdown passes and intercepted eight passes while completing a 70.0 percent completion rate and a 95.3 passer rating. The completion percentage would be the worst in the NFL; the test takers’ evaluation would rank 23rd. In other words, this is one of the worst pass defenses without Alexander.
Alexander, who suffered a knee injury on October 28, played just seven games. He has missed six straight games and seven of the last eight, and has only been on the field for 10 snaps since suffering an injury in Week 8 at Jacksonville.
In six appearances before the injury, Alexander intercepted two passes – including one pick-six at Tennessee – and defended five other passes.
Alexander’s absence forced Jeff Hafley and the Packers to get original with personnel and coverage. Keisean Nixon played more on the field. Eric Stokes and Carrington Valentine became full-time players. Rookie defensive tackle Javon Bullard moved from safety to safety and back again due to other injuries.
Without his best corner kick, Hafley was forced to be less aggressive in marking and play more zone-wise, especially with two high stakes.
Both Jared Goff and Sam Darnold have blown up the Packers pass defense this season without Alexander. Just know that Sam Howell and Spencer Rattler won’t be walking through that door in the postseason.
Many questions remain. Will Alexander play again this season and will he be effective after a long break due to a stern knee injury? And if Alexander doesn’t return, will the Packers be competitive enough in pass defense to survive in the NFC playoffs?
