Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander didn’t prove physically ready to play this week and will be ruled out for Sunday night’s showdown with the Seattle Seahawks.
Alexander, who is attempting to come back from a knee ligament injury, didn’t practice Friday. He was a full participant on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Just based on what I saw over the last couple of days, I didn’t feel like he was ready to play,” coach Matt LaFleur said Friday.
Alexander will miss his fourth straight game and seventh overall this season.
LaFleur said there was nothing disciplinary involved in the decision. Alexander just wasn’t physically ready to go, and the Packers didn’t want to deal with another situation where he attempted to play and exited early.
“There are certain requirements to go out there and play, certain speeds or what not, when you’re not hitting them, you’re not ready to play,” LaFleur said. “I didn’t want another situation like Chicago, quite frankly, where you’re in there for a couple of plays (before exiting).”
Against the Bears, Alexander played only 10 snaps before exiting the game with an aggravation. He first suffered the injury in Week 8 in Jacksonville.
Alexander has been available for only seven games this season.
LaFleur also confirmed rookie defensive back Javon Bullard (ankle) would be out against the Seahawks.
Without Alexander and Bullard, the Packers will rely on Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Eric Stokes at cornerback in Seattle. In positive injury news, rookie safety Evan Williams cleared concussion protocol and should be available against the Seahawks.