The Green Bay Packers are preparing for a tough matchup this weekend against the San Francisco 49ers as they continue their quest to make the NFL Playoffs. While the Packers are 7-3 and the 49ers are 5-5, this game is sure to be hard-fought by both teams, especially considering their recent postseason history against each other (which highly favors San Francisco).
The 49ers are preparing, however, with the game status of several of their stars up in the air. While All-Pro tight end George Kittle has told reporters that he “can’t miss the chance” to play the Packers, quarterback Brock Purdy and pass rusher Nick Bosa are questionable.
Green Bay, on the other hand, is relatively healthy going into the Week 12 slugfest, though one of their best defensive players may very well be out.
Green Bay Packers Star Jaire Alexander Has Battled Injuries Again This Season
When healthy, Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander is one of the best defensive players in the NFL. He is one of the highest-paid players at his position and has already been named to two Pro Bowls and has been selected as a Second Team All-Pro twice.
Unfortunately, this is the second consecutive season in which Alexander has battled injuries. Football, after all, is a violent sport and many of the things he is dealing with are unavoidable.
He missed two games early in the season with a groin injury that he suffered in Green Bay’s Week Three victory over the Tennessee Titans. This was also the game in which Alexander had his first career pick six.
After his return, Alexander was his usual dominant self. However, he injured his knee on the defense’s last play of their win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and missed the Packers’ loss to the Detroit Lions before the Bye Week.
The hope was that not playing against Detroit and then having the Bye Week would allow him to get healthy. And he did suit up when the Packers beat the Chicago Bears in Week 11. However, he was pulled from the game early at his request because he did not think his knee would hold up.
And now everyone knows why.
Green Bay Packers Cornerback Jaire Alexander Has a Torn PCL
When Alexander first injured his knee, many fans feared that he was going to be lost for the year. After all, it looked really bad. However, the Packers announced that he avoided a major injury and would just require some time off. No injured reserve stint required.
On Wednesday, head coach Matt LaFleur said that they would give their star cornerback the week to rehab and recover and see where he is on Sunday before making a decision on whether or not he would play.
On Thursday, Alexander himself revealed that the nature of his injury is more serious than fans thought:
Jaire Alexander told @TheAthletic today that he suffered a tear in his PCL earlier this season and re-aggravated the injury in Chicago.
He’s unsure of his return timetable, but he’s confident he’ll return to All-Pro form later this season.
More here: https://t.co/D9oSjy5XhN
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 21, 2024
As one can see from Matt Schneidman’s post, Alexander tore his PCL in that game against Jacksonville. While this injury is not nearly as serious as a torn ACL or MCL, it is still painful and limits those who suffer from it.
Not having Alexander for the game against the 49ers is not a foregone conclusion, but considering the nature of his injury, it should be expected if he does not play.
And while that would be less than ideal, it would be even better to have him back fully healthy in a few weeks.
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