The Green Bay Packers are heading into their Week 18 matchup with the Chicago Bears with an 11-5 record and a postseason berth already clinched. Indeed, despite the loss to the Minnesota Vikings last week, this year’s Week 18 game should be a great deal less stressful than last year’s where they needed a victory to clinch the final Wild Card spot in the NFC.
Still, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was left with a bad taste in his mouth after the loss to the Vikings due to his team, especially the offense, getting off to yet another frustratingly slow start. Due to this, and keep everyone sharp for the postseason, he has decided that Jordan Love and the rest of his healthy starters will play against the Bears on Sunday.
The key word being “healthy.” There are already multiple players ruled out for the game against Chicago, and one was just placed on injured reserve.
The Green Bay Packers Placed Jaire Alexander on Injured Reserve
Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander started off the 2024 NFL season like he was on pace for a career year. In the first three games of the season, he recorded two interceptions, including one which he returned for his first career touchdown.
When he missed a couple of games due to a groin injury, a few eyebrows were raised due to the numerous injuries that limited him to just seven games in 2023, but brushed it off when he came back shortly after.
Unfortunately, a knee injury in Week Eight against the Jacksonville Jaguars altered the course of what was sure to be another Pro Bowl season. Initially, Green Bay believed that Alexander had avoided serious injury. He was held out of Week Nine and, of course, had the Bye Week off before returning in Week 11.
However, he was only able to play 10 snaps before he had to come out of the game. Afterwards, it was revealed that he had a torn PCL. In the weeks that have followed, Alexander has tried to rehab his knee in an effort to get back on the field. Unfortunately, he needed season-ending surgery on his knee, LaFleur announced this week.
On Saturday, the Packers officially put him on injured reserve.
Green Bay Packers Fans React to Jaire Alexander Being Put on IR
There are many fans that believe that Alexander may have played his last game for the Packers due to his injury history and massive cap hit over the next two seasons.
However, if the Packers do make it to the Super Bowl, he would be eligible to come off of injured reserve to play in it (if his knee is healed enough). Many fans are hoping for that to happen.
We’ll see you Super Bowl week Ja https://t.co/3AsxCnQS0C
— 🧀Packers 11-5🧀 (@SeeColes) January 4, 2025
Jaire back for the Super Bowl heard you 😁 https://t.co/5TZPtw4MW0
— Ja $ (@JaireLocked) January 4, 2025
I get they wanted to wait & see how the knee responded but in hindsight should have placed him on IR after the bears game. https://t.co/AwS8Olttt8
— Blind Butchie. (@11Gunz) January 4, 2025
If only they did this when he was first hurt !!!!!! https://t.co/tJ0QznJIyl
— PTG (@ptg95000) January 4, 2025
expected. sucks, but expected https://t.co/1asuMpAx3m
— Zachary Jacobson (@zacobson) January 4, 2025
As one can see, many other fans wish the Packers had placed him on injured reserve when he first got hurt.
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