The next 48 hours will be nervous times at Lambeau Field. The Green Bay Packers are still evaluating the injury to All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander and all the options moving forward, and coach Matt LaFleur said the team will wait until Wednesday to provide an official update.
“We’re getting all the opinions. I’ll have an update for you on Wednesday,” LaFleur said.
Alexander, an All-Pro in 2020, injured his shoulder while making a tackle on Steelers running back Najee Harris on Sunday during the Packers’ 27-17 win. He left the game on a cart and didn’t return.
“Everything’s getting looked at right now,” LaFleur said.
The Packers coach confirmed it was a shoulder injury – and not a collarbone issue – but he couldn’t rule out the possibility of the injury being season-ending. He said the team is in a “holding pattern” until they understand what’s really wrong with Alexander.
LaFleur also said head athletic trainer Bryan “Flea” Engel and Dr. Pat McKenzie are still figuring out the path ahead.
“They are getting some other opinions on how to proceed, I guess, is the best way for me to say it right now,” LaFleur said.
The update on Wednesday could be a season-defining moment for the Packers. Losing Alexander, a legitimate shutdown cornerback, would be a crushing blow to the Packers’ championship hopes, especially with All-Pro edge rusher Za’Darius Smith already on injured reserve with a back injury.
LaFleur said there’s hope Smith could return at some point later this season, but he’ll be out “a while” and there’s no guarantee he will be back in 2021.
The Packers know Smith will miss a significant portion of the season. Now the team must wait to learn the future playing status of Alexander, one of the team’s best players.
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