The Green Bay Packers will return cornerback Jaire Alexander on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. The two-time All-Pro is officially active for the first time since injuring his shoulder against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 5 and missing the last six games.
The Packers listed Alexander as questionable entering the game. He will be an expected starter in the secondary.
Alexander, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, will play in his hometown for the first time in his NFL career. The Packers previously beat the Panthers at Lambeau Field in 2019 and 2020.
Alexander has practiced in a limited capacity for the better part of a month but has been unable to play, in part due to concerns over tackling. Even Alexander admitted the shoulder injury has been a debilitating one for a cornerback.
His return arrives at a desperate time for the Packers and Joe Barry’s defense. Not only do the Packers need to win three straight games after losing back-to-back games, but Barry’s defense is coming off a historically poor performance in which Baker Mayfield completed 22 of 28 passes for 384 yards and four touchdown passes in a 34-20 win over the Packers last Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Having Alexander return at cornerback would, in theory, give the Packers a terrific chance of bouncing back against rookie quarterback Bryce Young and the struggling Panthers offense on Sunday.
The Packers will be without receivers Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, who are both inactive with injuries. Starting linebacker De’Vondre Campbell and safety Darnell Savage were ruled out on Friday and are inactive on Sunday.
