GREEN BAY – It appears the Packers will need to go the rest of the way without Jaire Alexander.
On Wednesday, Head Coach Matt LaFleur confirmed the two-time All-Pro cornerback is "most likely" out the remainder of the season and upcoming playoffs due to his knee injury requiring surgery.
Alexander first injured his knee in the final minutes of the Packers' 30-27 win over Jacksonville in Week 8. He played 10 snaps in Chicago three weeks later and hasn't played since.
Alexander practiced on and off for the past 1½ months, including a week of full participation leading up to the Week 15 Seattle game, but was ruled out then and again last week against Minnesota after not practicing last Friday.
"It's unfortunate," said LaFleur on Wednesday. "It is what it is. I feel for him. Obviously, he was trying to get his knee right, it wasn't getting right, and so, yeah, it's a tough deal for all of us."
Alexander has battled a series of injuries dating back to Week 4 of the 2021 season, when he injured his shoulder on a tackle of Pittsburgh running back Najee Harris. Alexander missed the rest of the regular season before playing eight snaps in the playoffs.
The 5-foot-10, 196-pound cornerback returned to his All-Pro form in 2022, registering 56 tackles, 14 passes defensed and a career-high five interceptions in 16 starts.
However, Alexander played in just 14 regular-season games the past two years due to a combination of back, shoulder and knee injuries. After not playing in Minnesota, LaFleur told reporters on Monday Alexander was dealing with swelling in the knee.
"It's been tough," said safety Xavier McKinney. "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. It's a part of the game.
"We're just trying to be with him as much as possible, try to make sure he was good mentally because I knew how much it was hurting him not to be out there with us, just having conversations with him personally."
The Packers have relied on their secondary depth and versatility to navigate Alexander's absence, whether it's veteran Keisean Nixon playing both inside and outside depending on personnel or Carrington Valentine stepping back into a starting role.
A 2023 seventh-round pick out Kentucky, Valentine started 12 games as a rookie last year. After a hamstring injury sidelined him this past summer, the 6-foot, 189-pound cornerback started the regular season in a rotation with Eric Stokes in the perimeter spot opposite Alexander.
Having started the last six games, Valentine snagged his second interception in three weeks during Sunday's 27-25 loss to the Vikings.
"I'm just kind of used to it now, honestly. It's really next-man up mentality," Valentine said. "We're always gonna go out there and compete and just put our best foot forward."
Having put his own injury issues behind him, Stokes can sympathize with what Alexander is going through. The former first-round pick played just 12 games the past two years due to a Lisfranc foot fracture and a recurring hamstring issue.
Stokes is poised to play in every regular-season game for the first time since his rookie year with the Packers in 2021.
"I know how badly he wants to be out there," said Stokes of Alexander. "The moment I found out, I was just like, 'Dang.' I sent him a text. 'I know how you feel. I know what type of player you are. I know you really want to be out there for us' and all that stuff."
The Packers are dealing with injuries in the secondary beyond just Alexander, as both safeties Evan Williams (quadricep) and Zayne Anderson (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday.
When Anderson exited Sunday's game against the Vikings, rookie Javon Bullard moved from the slot to the back end with Nixon playing inside and outside depending on whether the defense was in base or nickel.
Regardless, McKinney maintains confidence in Green Bay's secondary to adjust, adapt and drive the defense to achieving its goals in postseason play. Before that, the Packers must contend with a hungry Bears offense that's looking to end its wayward season on a positive note in Sunday's regular-season finale.
"I have full trust in the guys in our room. I've been saying that for a long time," said McKinney, who leads Green Bay with seven INTs this season. "We have a lot of talented guys, a lot of guys who are smart and can adjust on the fly. I feel good about our group. Obviously, we have guys who are being called upon each week. I feel really good about this group and what we have."
