Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander will be out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury that requires surgery. Head Coach Matt LaFleur confirmed the news on Wednesday, stating it’s “most likely” Alexander won’t play again until next season.
Alexander suffered the injury in Week 8 against Jacksonville and has been trying to recover since then. He practiced sporadically over the past month but was ruled out of last week’s game against Minnesota due to swelling in his knee.
The Packers’ secondary has been relying on depth players like Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine to fill Alexander’s role. Valentine, a 2023 seventh-round pick, has started six games and recorded two interceptions this season. Safety Xavier McKinney expressed sympathy for Alexander’s situation but maintained confidence in the team’s ability to adjust without him.
“We know that he was working to try to get back, but it’s like every time he was trying to, he would tweak it again,” McKinney said. “It’s a part of the game.”
The Packers face their final regular-season game against Chicago on Sunday. Despite injuries in the secondary, McKinney remains optimistic about the team’s ability to drive the defense forward.
“I have full trust in the guys in our room,” he said. “I’ve been saying that for a long time… I feel really good about this group and what we have.”
Source: https://www.packers.com/news/packers-look-to-press-on-without-jaire-alexander-wk-18-2024-season