Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander will miss a fourth consecutive game with a shoulder injury, leaving a big void in the defense for tonight’s game against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
This is Green Bay’s 12th game of the season. This will be Alexander’s seventh game on the sideline, following a three-game absence with an injured back.
Alexander was limited participation at all three practices this week and questionable on Friday’s injury report.
“We’ll see how he got through today and where he’s at on Sunday,” coach Matt LaFleur said on Friday, certainly a less-than-optimistic tone.
That Alexander practiced all week seemed to be a harbinger of things to come. However, Alexander was “limited” for the three hypothetical practices before Thursday’s game at the Lions, when he was questionable. Before that, he was limited for the final two practices before the game against the Chargers, when he also was questionable.
So, for a fourth consecutive game, the Packers will go with rookie Carrington Valentine and veteran Corey Ballentine as the starting corners. They’ll face a tall task against the two-time MVP Mahomes, who is coming off one of his best games of the season.
“You’re talking about a guy that is highly competitive and arguably the best at his craft at his position,” defensive coordinator Joe Barry said of Alexander after Thursday’s practice. “He wants to be out there. It’s been great. He’s had two pretty good days, yesterday and today.
“I’ve told you guys before, [when] you’re talking about a player that’s dealing with something, I know as a coach, he might have a great Wednesday. You just hope, ‘OK, when he comes in Thursday, he still feels good.’ We just take it day by day. He had a good day yesterday. He came in, felt good today, had a good day today. Hopefully, that continues and he has a great Friday.”
Also inactive for Green Bay: running back Aaron Jones (knee) and tight end Josiah Deguara (hip), as well as receiver Samori Toure, offensive tackle Caleb Jones and outside linebacker Brenton Cox (healthy scratches).
Jones was ruled out on Friday; the Packers elevated veteran James Robinson from the practice squad for depth. Deguara was questionable but the Packers elevated rookie Henry Pearson from the practice squad, as well.
This will be the fifth consecutive game that the fast-improving Malik Heath has gotten the call over Toure.
For the Chiefs, their productive pass-catching running back, Jerick McKinnon, headlines their inactives.
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