Rob DemovskyESPN Editor2 minute read
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Just when it looked like Jaire Alexander was clear of a back injury that kept him out of three games this season, the Green Bay Packers star cornerback appears likely to miss another game due to another injury.
The two-time Pro Bowler did not practice this week due to a shoulder injury he suffered in Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Rams and appears unlikely to play this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report.
A source told ESPN on Friday that Alexander likely would not be placed on injured reserve, which would force him to miss at least four games, but that Alexander would need to increase the range of motion in his shoulder before he could return to play. .
This is not the same shoulder that Alexander injured in 2021 and that kept him out for most of the season, the source said.
Alexander finished the game against the Rams playing all 58 defensive snaps. He was injured while diving to try to make a play in the second half, the source said.
It wasn’t until last month, when the Packers were so plentiful at cornerbacks, that defensive coordinator Joe Barry called it “champagne problems” in trying to figure out how to get them all on the field. This was just as Eric Stokes was about to come off injured reserve following a foot injury last season. Since then, Stokes has been injured again (hamstring) and is back on IR, Rasul Douglas was traded to the Bills and now Alexander is injured again.
“I think any time you go through that, that’s the nature of our game in some ways,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Friday. “A lot of these guys are dealing with injuries or soreness. That’s the sport of football.”
The Packers started seventh-round rookie Carrington Valentine at cornerback opposite Alexander last week. Now, it could be Corey Ballentine, who was initially on the Packers’ practice squad last year, or Robert Rochell, who was cut from the Panthers’ practice squad on October 25 , at the other cornerback position. The Packers should leave Keisean Nixon as the third cornerback in the nickel package.
Another defensive starter, linebacker Quay Walker, was also listed as questionable after missing the entire week of practice. Walker also missed the game against the Rams.
The Packers listed five players as questionable, including three potential starting offensive linemen: Josh Myers (knee), Yosh Nijman (back) and Jon Runyan (neck). Two other defensive starters were questionable: Kenny Clark (shoulder) and Rudy Ford (calf).