Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander missed practice on Thursday with a lingering back injury and is considered “day to day,” according to coach Matt LaFleur.
“I really don’t have a lot to say on it. I’m certainly not an expert on backs and don’t want to pretend to be,” LaFleur said Thursday.
LaFleur dismissed a question on if Alexander, a two-time All-Pro, suffered a setback.
Alexander returned to practice as a limited participant on Wednesday, but his absence Thursday suggests he’s in trouble of missing another game. The Packers host the Justin Jefferson-less Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Alexander has missed three of the last four games after injuring his back in the lead up of the Packers’ Week 3 showdown with the New Orleans Saints. Alexander returned to play against Davante Adams and the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5 but missed last week’s loss in Denver coming out of the bye week.
The volatile nature of the injury could mean it’s something Alexander must deal with throughout the 2023 season. Any kind of back issue would be difficult to overcome for a cornerback that must make quick, twisting movements as a job requirement.
The Packers will practice again and release a final injury report on Friday. Alexander was questionable to play last week and ended up being inactive.
If Alexander can’t go on Sunday, the Packers would have Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Corey Ballentine as the defense’s top four cornerbacks. Eric Stokes went on injured reserve on Wednesday.