Jaire Alexander’s Knee Injury: A Setback for the Packers’ Star Cornerback

Jaire Alexander, one of the Green Bay Packers’ most talented defenders, has been dealing with a lingering knee injury that appears to be worse than initially disclosed. Speaking with Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, Alexander revealed that he suffered a PCL tear in his knee, an injury that could keep him sidelined for several more weeks.

The setback occurred during the Packers’ Week 8 victory over Jacksonville. Alexander missed the following game in Week 9 and used the team’s bye in Week 10 to focus on his recovery. Despite limited practices leading up to Week 11, Alexander started Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears. Unfortunately, his return was short-lived, as he managed just 10 defensive snaps before exiting for good.

Reflecting on the situation, Alexander shared his frustrations and the tough reality of playing through an injury like this.

“I stayed here the whole bye week trying to hopefully come back and make an impact for the team,” Alexander told Schneidman. “It was a game-time decision at that, so we didn’t know … until a few minutes before the game if I would play or not.

“I just tried to give it a go … I went out there and, man, all I could really give was 10 plays before I felt something. If you know how (posterior cruciate ligaments) work, it doesn’t just heal in three weeks. It needed more time, but I reaggravated it. Now, we’re just trying to get my knee back right.”

Alexander is optimistic about returning to his All-Pro level of play during the critical stretch run of the 2024 season. However, he emphasized that a full recovery will take time, and he may need to rest more before rejoining the lineup at full strength.

The 26-year-old cornerback has proven to be one of the NFL’s elite defensive backs when healthy. In standout seasons like 2020 and 2022, Alexander established himself as a cornerstone of Green Bay’s defense. But injuries have plagued him in recent years. A shoulder issue limited him to four games in 2021, and back and shoulder injuries, along with a suspension, restricted him to just seven games in 2023. Earlier this season, he also missed two games due to a groin injury.

In Alexander’s absence, Keisean Nixon will continue as the team’s top cornerback. Meanwhile, Carrington Valentine has leapfrogged Eric Stokes to earn a more significant role, stepping up to fill the void.

For now, the Packers will be without their star, hoping Alexander’s recovery goes smoothly and that he returns stronger for the final push of the season.