"Countdown to camp" is a position-by-position overview of the Packers' roster heading into training camp. The series continues with the secondary.

GREEN BAY – The Pack is back, and so too is Jaire Alexander

What started as a turbulent 2023 season for Green Bay and its cornerback couldn't have come to a better resolution, as Alexander put lingering injuries and a one-game suspension behind him during the Packers' playoff push.

In the process, the seventh-year veteran recaptured to his All-Pro form. Alexander's first-quarter interception of Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott was critical to the Packers routing the top-seeded Cowboys 48-32 in the NFC Wild Card round.

Once the offseason arrived, Alexander made it clear with both his words and his actions that he wants to keep the positive vibes going. He was a mainstay during the Packers' offseason program to the point Head Coach Matt LaFleur excused Alexander from mandatory minicamp for good attendance.

Asked why he chose to attend this year after skipping the voluntary workouts last spring, Alexander told reporters he's "trying not to make it as much about myself and just do what's best for the team."

In that regard, the Packers love everything they've seen from Alexander since he served a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team after declaring himself a captain for Green Bay's Week 16 matchup with Carolina in the cornerback's hometown of Charlotte.

With improved communication, Alexander is ready to get back to work and motivated to prove he's still the best cornerback in the league. When healthy, Alexander makes a compelling case. In 71 games with 69 starts, Alexander has recorded 217 tackles with 73 passes defended and 10 interceptions.

Beyond just statistics, the Packers' defense clearly functions differently when the 27-year-old cornerback is available and shutting down one side of the field. He's also Green Bay's second-longest tenured player behind only defensive lineman Kenny Clark.

Alexander isn't the only cornerback looking to complete a comeback this year, as Eric Stokes looks to get back on the horse after the season-ending foot injury he suffered in 2022 led to a recurring hamstring issue that limited the former first-round pick to playing in just four games last season.

Stokes consulted the hamstring specialists at Badger Athletic Performance in Madison earlier this year and felt he found answers to what’s ailed him. A full participant this spring, Stokes is looking to recapture the promise he showed as a rookie when the 6-foot-1, 194-pound cornerback registered 55 tackles, a team-high 14 passes defensed and an interception in 2021.

In the slot, the Packers addressed one of their biggest needs when they re-signed nickel cornerback Keisean Nixon to a long-term deal in March. A two-time All-Pro kickoff returner, Nixon responded well to an expanded role on defense en route to recording 80 tackles, six passes defensed and an interception in 17 games (13 starts).

One silver lining to the injury issues Green Bay had in the secondary last year is it led to emergence of Corey Ballentine and Carrington Valentine, who combined to start 18 regular-season games on the perimeter in 2023.

Valentine came out of nowhere as a rookie seventh-round pick to make 12 of those starts, recording 44 tackles and nine passes defensed. The 22-year-old cornerback put on more than 10 pounds this offseason to aid his pursuit of a starting job this summer.

Ballentine opened last season on Green Bay's practice squad before signing to the active roster in October. Starting mainly in Alexander's stead, the sixth-year veteran had a career-high 43 tackles with seven passes defensed and one INT. After re-signing in March, Ballentine spelled Nixon at nickel CB this spring.

Other cornerbacks hoping to factor into the Packers' plans include fourth-year veteran Robert Rochell, who re-signed with the team after playing in nine games last season, rookie seventh-round pick Kalen King, practice-squad holdover Zyon Gilbert and Gemon Green.

While there are many returning faces at cornerback, things look drastically different at safety after Green Bay overhauled the position this offseason. The Packers made that indication clear when they signed former New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney during the opening hours of free agency.

McKinney, who doesn't turn 25 until next month, has already played in 49 regular-season games with 46 starts. McKinney's first four NFL seasons have seen the 6-foot, 201-pound safety record 277 tackles, 27 passes defensed, nine INTs (one returned for a TD) and two forced fumbles.

A former team captain in New York, McKinney has wasted no time marshaling a young position room that includes three rookie draft picks: Georgia's Javon Bullard (second round, No. 58 overall), Oregon's Evan Williams (fourth, 111) and Oregon State's Kitan Oladapo (fifth, 169).

Bullard started at both nickel cornerback and safety for the Bulldogs, recording a career-high 56 tackles with five pass breakups and two interceptions while patrolling the back end this past year. His 4.47 time in the 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine helped propel Bullard to becoming the second safety drafted in April.

Williams started during each of his four seasons at Fresno State before transferring to Oregon, where he tallied 82 tackles, a career-high 4½ sacks and two fumble recoveries this past year.

The Packers' brass considers Oladapo the truest deep safety of the bunch, but he sat out of the offseason program after undergoing surgery to repair the broken toe he sustained while performing drills at the combine in February.

During spring practices, 2023 seventh-round pick Anthony Johnson Jr. received the most playing time alongside McKinney. A former cornerback who switched to safety during his final year at Iowa State, Johnson had 24 tackles, three passes defensed and one INT in 12 games (four starts) as a rookie.

Second-year safety Zayne Anderson has played strictly on special teams during his NFL career but garnered some buzz after intercepting quarterback Sean Clifford three times during a single June minicamp practice. Benny Sapp III and Tyler Coyle also are back after spending time on Green Bay's practice squad.

Countdown to camp series:

QBs - Jordan Love resumes the reins for Packers

RBs - Packers undergo changing of the guard at running back

WR/TE - Plenty of quality, productive options at receiver/tight end for Packers

OL - Packers possess veteran experience across offensive front

DL - Packers' expanded defensive line ready to attack

LB - Quay Walker eager to lead Packers’ new-look defense