One of the biggest questions going into the Green Bay Packers‘ game against the New York Giants was whether or not two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander was going to play. Alexander, who has also been named Second Team All Pro twice, is dealing with a shoulder injury that he suffered in the Packers’ win against the Los Angeles Rams.
While the Packers decided not to put Alexander on injured reserve, he has missed the team’s last five games including the loss to the Giants on Monday night. During the week leading up to the showdown in New York, Alexander came under fire for his demeanor with the media.
Some media members, including former Packers running back Gary Ellerson, shared the belief that Alexander is bad for the team and should be traded. Some fans accused Alexander of simply collecting his paycheck and not even trying to get back on the field.
Both statements, that Alexander is bad for the team and that he is not trying to get back on the field, are, to be perfectly blunt, completely moronic and low-minded drivel.
Green Bay Packers Cornerback Jaire Alexander Did Not Travel with the Team to New York
The unfounded criticism surrounding Alexander was not helped by the fact that he did not travel with the Packers to New York. He missed his fifth-straight game despite being able to practice in a limited capacity last week.
During his press conference on Wednesday, head coach Matt LaFleur was asked for the reason why Alexander was kept at home. As mentioned, many media members seem to insinuate that there is tension between the Packers organization and their star cornerback.
LaFleur, however, said it was part of the recovery process. According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, LaFleur said,
“Just we felt like that was best for him in terms of trying to get his shoulder back, part of the recovery process.”
While there may be fans that discount LaFleur’s statement and want to falsely claim that Alexander is just taking paychecks, it should be noted that part of Alexander’s contract includes game bonus money. Because of his various injuries this year, Alexander has now missed eight games, absences which have cost him nearly $300,000. If he was able to play, he would play.
It is also worth mentioning that the NFL has, for a while now, banned tackling in practice in an effort to keep players healthy. This means that Alexander can participate in various practice drills because there is not as big of a danger of his reinjuring or aggravating his shoulder. However, come gameday, his shoulder has not felt good enough for him to use in tackling, which is a pretty important part of his job.
Jaire Alexander’s Game Status for Week 15 Is Not Yet Determined
While the Packers did not practice yesterday, they did release their initial injury report for the week. As was the case last week, Alexander was estimated to be a limited participant due to his shoulder.
While Carrington Valentine and Corey Ballentine have been solid in Alexander’s absence, there is no question that the defense would be even better if he were healthy. With the NFL Playoffs a possibility, the Packers need to make sure that their star corner is 100% healthy before they put him back on the field.
Not only will that be the best thing for Alexander, it will be the best thing for the team in the long-run.
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