Packers CB Jaire Alexander ‘progressing nicely’ in recovery from shoulder injury
The Green Bay Packers still can’t rule out the possibility of surgery, but the team is so far pleased with the progress made by All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander in his recovery from a shoulder injury.
The Packers are waiting on any kind of surgical intervention while giving Alexander as much time as possible to heal on his own.
“I can’t 100 percent rule (surgery) out, but we feel like it is progressing nicely,” coach Matt LaFleur said Monday. “It’s a constant thing that we’re always rescanning, if you will, and making sure we are getting the right opinions to help Jaire out and put him in the best possible position.”
Alexander, a first-time Pro Bowler last season, was injured making a tackle on Steelers running back Najee Harris on Oct. 3. He was placed on injured reserve and has missed wins over the Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears.
LaFleur said there is a window in which the Packers would eventually need to make a decision on surgery, but he wasn’t exactly sure of the specifics and declined to create a firm timeline on such a decision.
The news has to be considered positive for Alexander and the Packers. Healing progress now reduces the chances of needing surgery later, and LaFleur has already confirmed that surgery would end Alexander’s 2021 season. The door still remains wide open for Alexander to return at some point this season.
Getting back one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks would be a big boost to a team that has won five straight games despite dealing with several injuries to key players.
LaFleur also confirmed cornerback Kevin King wouldn’t be going on injured reserve and is now considered “day to day” with his shoulder injury. He was injured during the win in Cincinnati and missed Sunday’s game in Chicago.
Rookie Eric Stokes and slot corner Chandon Sullivan handled the majority of the snaps at the position against the Bears, while newcomer Rasul Douglas replaced Isaac Yiadom on the perimter after the first series.
Returning King or Alexander or both would be huge because a brutal stretch of games is approaching for the Packers defense. After facing the Washington Football Team this week, the Packers will match up against quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Patrick Mahomes in back-to-back weeks. Russell Wilson could be up after Mahomes if he’s able to come off injured reserve, and then the Packers would face Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford in the two weeks after.
List
Matt LaFleur provides injury updates for several Packers players
