Matt LaFleur gives update on injured Packers cornerback
The Green Bay Packers and head coach Matt LaFleur are still waiting for more information to determine the status of star cornerback Jaire Alexander. Alexander sustained a shoulder injury in the Packers’ win over the Steelers.
“We’re kind of in a holding pattern until we find out what’s really wrong with Ja,” LaFleur said on Monday. “They’re getting some other opinions on how to proceed. Right now, we’ve got a few of our stud players on the bench due to injury.”
According to the NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Alexander suffered an AC joint injury in his shoulder. More tests are coming this week to confirm the severity of the injury and establish a potential timeline.
An AC joint sprain can take up to six weeks to completely heal. Should Alexander’s injury turn out to be more severe and require surgery, his season could be done.
LaFleur added he would have a full update on Wednesday. The Packers begin preparations for a Week 5 trip to 3-1 Cincinnati.
Green Bay trainers carted Alexander off the field with a shoulder injury during the third quarter. Packers still pulled out the win 27-17 over the Steelers on Sunday to move to 3-1.
The injury occurred on a fourth-down stop. Steelers running back Najee Harris caught a pass from Ben Roethlisberger just short of the first-down line. The former first-rounder did not record any stats in the game.
The Packers held Roethlisberger to just 232 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Many of those yards came late on a touchdown drive following the departure of Alexander.
Jaire Alexander had 13 tackles and an interception over the first four weeks of the season.
With Alexander out, rookie cornerback Eric Stokes shined on Sunday. The first-round pick out of Georgia recorded his first interception. He now has 12 tackles (eight solo), six pass breakups and a pick.
Injuries mount for LaFleur, Packers
On top of Jaire Alexander’s injury, the Packers are dealing several more critical issues.
Last week, the team learned pass rusher Za’Darius Smith will not return for the rest of the season due to a back injury. Smith was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2020.
Cornerback Kevin King is close to a return for the Packers after a concussion forced him onto the bench for two weeks. Pro-Bowl offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins could return this week from an ankle injury, though the medical team hasn’t cleared him for practice yet.