Fantasy football owners, rejoice. The Green Bay Packers locker room is still in tact and Jaire Alexander won’t be returning to the field this season after all. Last week, head coach Mike McCarthy said that Alexander would not play during the 2019 NFL season because of a ‘long way out.’
The “jaire alexander stats” is not the worst news ever for the Green Bay Packers. The team has been waiting for Jaire Alexander to return from injury. However, this could be a long way out.
Jaire Alexander, the Green Bay Packers’ outstanding cornerback, has been sorely missed. Unfortunately, his absence will have to continue to make their hearts grow fonder, since it does not seem like “Ja” will be returning anytime soon.
Alexander has been out of the Green Bay defense since suffering a serious shoulder injury in Week 4 of the season.
He didn’t need shoulder surgery to repair the damaged AC joint, which was fantastic news. What’s the bad news? Since then, he’s missed five games.
Green Bay will have to wait a little longer since head coach Matt LaFleur has said that there is still more mending to be done.
That isn’t the worst thing that has ever happened to the Packers, believe it or not.
Jaire Alexander’s comeback to the Green Bay Packers is still “a long way off.”
Green Bay Packers #23 Jaire Alexander walks on the field at Lambeau Field before a game against the Carolina Panthers | Dylan Buell/Getty Images
The big story in the Packers’ corner of the internet this week has been a picture from practice that shows Alexander on the sideline. It’s the first time we’ve seen the standout cornerback in public, prompting speculation about when he’ll be eligible to play for the Packers.
Again, we’re in a scenario where there’s good news and terrible news. The good news is that Alexander’s rehabilitation is proceeding well, according to LaFleur. Unfortunately, he’ll have to wait a bit before he’s ready to try it.
According to Zach Kruse, LaFleur added, “It’s going well, but it’s still a long way off.”
Despite the fact that he hasn’t been seen at practice, LaFluer said the cornerback has stayed connected with the organization.
“No, Ja has spent a lot of time here. The goal is to keep strengthening while allowing his shoulder to recover. “We’ll see where he is,” stated LaFleur.
The most recent update on Alexander may be seen in a positive light.
Green Bay Packers #23 Jaire Alexander sprints after intercepting a pass against the San Francisco 49ers in the first half | Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
While the Packers would prefer to have Alexander on the field rather than dealing with an injury, this recent development has some good ramifications.
The first is that Alexander hasn’t been ruled out completely. Surgery on his shoulder would have ended his season, so the fact that he’s been recovering and progressing without having to go down that path is big.
It seems like time is speeding up, although we’re just halfway through the season. Green Bay still has eight games left to play, not including the playoffs, which are a foregone conclusion for this team. Although a November comeback is unlikely, there is still a chance he may play in the regular season. At the very least, a playoff comeback seems to be a possibility.
The idea that Green Bay’s cornerback depth will continue to grow is another hidden good in this news.
Despite the ups and downs that come with being a rookie cornerback, Eric Stokes has lived up to his expectations as a cover guy. With Alexander out, he got his opportunity to play, and his development has been a significant reason for Joe Barry’s defense surpassing expectations in 2021.
For Green Bay’s secondary, Rasul Douglas has also been a revelation. He was claimed off the Cardinals’ practice squad and was the last nail in the coffin for the team’s unbeaten season. He’s a solid football player for the Packers, but he wouldn’t be on the roster if Green Bay hadn’t gone out searching for relief after Alexander’s injury.
Throughout the season, Green Bay’s defense has profited from adversity.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ Darrel Williams #31 runs the ball at Arrowhead Stadium during the first quarter of their game against the Green Bay Packers. | Jamie Squire/Getty Images
The Packers have been crushed by injuries this season, but one of the beautiful things about this club is that it has embraced a “next man up” mentality, with numerous players stepping up.
With the exception of one game, star pass rusher Za’Darius Smith has been out due to a back issue. Rashan Gary has taken his place as Green Bay’s primary playmaker, while defensive end Dean Lowry has stepped up to lead the club with three sacks.
With Alexander out of the lineup, Stokes and Douglas stepped up their game in the secondary.
The unforeseen but beneficial result of Green Bay’s injuries in 2021 is that the team’s depth has been put to the test, and the Packers have proved to be surprisingly resilient. Being able to trust the second and third-string to produce huge plays in big situations is a luxury that other teams don’t have, especially with a lengthy playoff run on the horizon for the Packers.
Green Bay also seems to be a squad that could be able to become healthy at the appropriate moment.
David Bakhtiari, a Pro Bowl left tackle, has been reinstated off injured reserve and should be back shortly, while Za’Darius Smith seems to be on his way back. If Green Bay can get Alexander back in time for the playoffs, the Packers might have one of the deepest and most terrifying cornerback corps in the league. Alexander is a celebrity. Stokes is on the rise. Douglas is a trustworthy individual. Kevin King is capable of starting, so having him as a backup or nickelback would be a luxury.
That secondary has an opportunity to grow and flourish while Alexander is gone for a bit longer. When he returns, he’s good enough to hit the ground running, and the Packers’ possibilities are endless.
ESPN and Pro Football Reference provided the statistics.
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