The Green Bay Packers are hoping that Jaire Alexander’s back injury won’t persist after he missed two games in a row due to it, along with all the unpredictableness that goes along with it.
Two days prior to the Packers’ scheduled visitation of the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field, the All-Pro cornerback was listed on the practice report last Friday.
The team decided to err on the side of caution due to the short turnaround between games—they hosted the Detroit Lions on Thursday night.
He didn’t play.
The Packers will play again on October. Alexander will have another 10 days to make sure he’s healthy enough to play on Oct.
9 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
As head coach Matt LaFleur mentioned on Friday, however, back injuries are frequently challenging.
Alexander will soon return to full strength, he says, and he insisted that the team’s medical staff is on top of it.
LaFleur declared, ”
They’ve got a handle on it.”.
We aren’t overly worried in the long run, I would say. But seriously, has anyone ever experienced back pain in this place?
It’s a bad deal”
Without Alexander, the Packers used Rasul Douglas and Carrington Valentine on each perimeter for the second straight week, with Keisean Nixon serving as the nickelback.
Valentine left the game against the Saints due to a biceps injury, but only four days later he was fit enough to play.
He was replaced by veteran Corey Ballentine after just 26 defensive snaps, ending the seventh-round rookie’s brief night.
It wasn’t a criticism of Valentine’s play or a deterioration of a pre-existing injury.
According to LaFleur, the team had a game plan going into the night that included playing both cornerbacks.
The game’s style was all that really mattered, he said.
“Once they got out on that lead, they started thinking more about run situations, and that’s why we made that choice.
“.
Pro Football Focus claims that in the 20 passing plays that Ballentine participated in, he was never targeted. Valentine played 13 and gave up one catch for 26 yards on two targets that were thrown his way.
Alexander had a limited role in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday despite being benched for the game. His trajectory is on the upswing, as is the secondary for the Packers as a whole.
Eric Stokes missed the required four games to start the season after being placed on the physically unable to perform list due to a serious lower-leg injury last year.
As soon as his health permits it, he can rejoin the team and start working out.
In a Nov.17 game, the Packers’ cornerback, who was in his second season, suffered a meniscus tear and Lisfranc injury.
Six matches versus the Lions.
If he were to return, the Packers would likely start with the same trio as they did in the first half of last year, consisting of Douglas in the slot, Alexander and Stokes on the boundaries.
LaFleur replied, “We’ll see whether or not those plans are on the horizon.
“.