One of the questions that has surrounded the Green Bay Packers for weeks now has been the injury status of two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander. Coming off an injury-plagued season in 2023 in which he only played seven games, Alexander was hopeful that 2024 would be a bounce back year.
And he was off to a good start, too. A two-time Second Team All-Pro selection, Alexander intercepted two passes in the first three games of the year, including one that he took back for his first career pick six.
Unfortunately, injuries have reared their ugly head again.
Green Bay Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur Announces Jaire Alexander Is Done for the Year
Earlier today, it was reported that Alexander was one of eight Packers players not practicing. After their walk-through, head coach Matt LaFleur met with the media and made an unfortunate announcement regarding his star cornerback: Alexander will have season-ending knee surgery.
“He was trying to get his knee right and it wasn’t getting right. It’s a tough deal for everyone. It stinks that we’re here, but we’re here.”
Alexander originally tore his PCL in Green Bay’s Week Eight victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. At the time, the Packers hoped that two weeks off would be enough for him to get back on the field.
And he did return against the Chicago Bears in Week 11. However, he only played 10 snaps before being pulled due to the injury, which was made even worse by his returning too soon.
The Packers continued to hope that rehab and rest would be enough. Meanwhile, Alexander was seen practicing with them team, sometimes in a limited sense, but other times as a full participant. Last week, though, he was downgraded each day and ruled out for Sunday.
Now, he has been ruled out for the season.
Will Jaire Alexander Return to the Green Bay Packers in 2025?
The Packers are in a better salary cap position going into 2025 than they have been in for years. Currently, they are projected to have $63.2 million in salary cap space, the seventh-most in the NFL.
In other words, they do not need to cut Alexander in the offseason in order to afford another player.
That being said, they would save $6.8 million if they did decide to move on from him in the offseason. While he got injured doing his job, which is playing football, and could not have avoided it, it is frustrating that he has seen his season end early in three out of the last four years.
Whether or not he returns will simply be based on if Green Bay wants him back. As noted above, they can afford him and would not save that much money by releasing him. Additionally, they have plenty of money to work with as it is.
It is possible that they restructure his contract to ease his $25.8 million cap hit in 2025, but that will depend on how much money the front office is willing to kick down the road.
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