Jaire Alexander on facing Davante Adams: ‘I can’t miss this matchup with the best’
Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander has been waiting for this matchup for a long time.
On Monday night in Las Vegas, the Packers’ two-time All-Pro cornerback will finally get a chance to go one-on-one against former Packers receiver and three-time All-Pro Davante Adams.
“I wouldn’t say it’s like the Super Bowl or the playoffs, but it’s kinda like that. It is what it is. I can’t miss this matchup with the best,” Alexander said Thursday. “I circled it way back a few months ago.”
For several years, Alexander and Adams went toe-to-toe in practice. As a first-round pick in 2018, Alexander went through trial by fire facing Adams every day, helping him ascend — through confidence and motivation — to elite status at cornerback.
The Packers traded Adams to the Raiders in 2022. Monday night will be the first time facing Adams and the franchise’s first trip to play the Raiders in Las Vegas.
“It’s pretty evident, he’s the best,” Alexander said. “I could go on and on, but he’s the best, I’m going to leave it at that.”
Alexander, who has missed two straight games with an injury, said his back is feeling “better.” When asked to put a number on it, he said his back felt “99.5 percent,” suggesting the injury won’t keep him out of a third straight contest.
Alexander said he’d love to shadow Adams on Monday night but also said he trusts the gameplan. The matchup between Alexander and Adams is of paramount importance considering Adams has received 50 of the Raiders’ 131 total targets this season.
Through four games in 2023, Adams has 33 catches for 397 yards and three touchdowns. He’s dealing with a shoulder injury coming out of last week and didn’t practice Thursday.
Don’t expect any trash talk between the two. Adams and Alexander last spoke at last year’s Pro Bowl and the two elite competitors have nothing but respect for each other.
“It’s a mouth-piece-in all game type of game,” Alexander said. “Not too much to say, just go out there and do it.”
