The Green Bay Packers will be without two preferred starters at cornerback when they take on Seattle Seahawks receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett on Sunday night at Lumen Field.
Matt LaFleur’s team ruled out Jaire Alexander and Javon Bullard for Week 15.
While LaFleur wouldn’t give away personnel pr lineup details, there’s a good chance that Carrington Valentine and Eric Stokes will start on the perimeter with Keisean Nixon in the slot against the Seahawks.
A lingering injury and a new injury will have the Packers scrambling at cornerback against a terrific trio of wide receivers.
Alexander, who practiced in full on Wednesday and Thursday, didn’t show enough physically during the two practices to prove to the Packers he was ready to play. LaFleur said Alexander failed to hit certain thresholds, including on-field speed, required to play, so the two-time All-Pro cornerback will miss a fourth straight game and seventh overall this season.
Bullard injured his ankle in Detroit last Thursday night and didn’t practice all week. While the Packers don’t think he has a long-term, significant injury, Bullard — who played at least 70 percent of the defense’s snaps in 11 of 13 games this season — will miss at least one game while recovering.
Alexander’s inability to return coupled with Bullard’s new injury almost certainly means the Packers will need to move Nixon from the perimeter back to the slot and have both Valentine and Stokes be full-time players on the outside. LaFleur said earlier this week he was planning on the rotation between Valentine and Stokes continuing, but the injury situation will likely necessitate both to be starters on Sunday night.
Stokes has struggled in coverage for most of the season, but the Packers keep giving him opportunities. Other options are Corey Ballentine, who practiced fully through a knee injury on Friday, and Robert Rochell, who is primarily a special teamer.
The challenge from the other side is an obvious one.
Smith-Njigba, a 2023 first-round pick, has blossomed into one of the NFL’s young stars at receiver. He leads the team with 75 catches for 911 yards and five touchdowns, and he’s one of just four receivers — the others being Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb — to catch at least 75 passes for at least 900 yards and five scores this season. Smith-Njigba is currently riding a five-game streak with at least 70 receiving yards. He’s a challenge to cover for anyone, and it’s clear he has chemistry with Geno Smith.
The Seahawks also have Metcalf, a physically dominant receiver who can win down the field, and Lockett, a veteran with route-running savvy. Metcalf is averaging 15.0 yards per catch; Lockett is averaging 8.1 yards per target. They’ve taken a backseat to Smith-Njibga but both are still effective players.
The Seahawks are one of the most pass-heavy teams in football. Smith ranks second in the NFL in attempts and completions entering Week 15.
One antidote to coverage question marks is a strong four-man pass-rush, but it’s increasingly uncertain if the Packers are going to have the kind pass-rush necessary for covering up coverage problems this season. The Seahawks have had issues protecting Smith, but he also wasn’t sacked last week.
Can the Packers — without their top perimeter corner and preferred slot defender — matchup in coverage against the Seahawks? That answer might determine if LaFleur’s team is flying home to Green Bay at 10-4 or 9-5.