For much of the Green Bay Packers’ matchup against the rival Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jaire Alexander seemed to be having a rough go of it. The superstar cornerback and former Second-Team All-Pro is supposed to be a lynchpin for the Green Bay defense, but he struggled early and often — especially in big spots.
As Justin Fields cut the Packers up, the Bears QB specifically seemed to target Alexander downfield. Multiple deep bombs came at the expense of the NFL’s highest-paid corner in Alexander. One such play was an early 56-yard catch by Equanimeous St. Brown in stride.
A route where he just seemed to run past Alexander with little resistance:
.@justnfields 56 yard bomb to @Equanimeous 😮💨 #ProBowlVote
📺: #GBvsCHI on FOX pic.twitter.com/RFGLCk2F7U
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 4, 2022
By the end of the game — with the Bears pressing for a fourth-quarter victory — Alexander would get the last laugh by cutting in front of St. Brown for a game-sealing interception. (The Packers would go on to win 28-19.)
.@JaireAlexander jumps the route!
INTERCEPTION 💪 #GBvsCHI | #ProBowlVote | #GoPackGo
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/dh7ZLCcVFA
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 4, 2022
After the game, with Alexander and the 5-8 Packers basking in their victory, the corner had some harsh words about St. Brown. Even after he allowed that big catch to St. Brown (and this play to N’Keal Harry) — Alexander said he was never worried about covering the Bears’ “scrub”:
Jaire Alexander on what he thought after giving up that 56-yard catch to former teammate Equanimeous St. Brown:
"Nothing. Man, he a scrub. I can’t believe I let him catch that on me. But hat’s off to him because he did make a good catch."
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) December 4, 2022
Phew. That’s some scathing criticism about a guy who beat Alexander cleanly at the most critical aspect of his job — limiting big plays downfield.
Though I suppose Alexander earned the right to talk smack after he eventually essentially won the game for the Packers. With the Packers and Bears’ season series over for 2022, we’ll have to see if Alexander and St. Brown get the opportunity to rekindle this battle — and address some of these words — next year.
NFL fans had mixed thoughts about Alexander's "scrub" comment concerning St. Brown
Most overrated corner in football https://t.co/sLOWGlxuOJ
— Ryen Vilmont (@Ezsilk32) December 4, 2022
Diggs would never https://t.co/BC9oZf4Rnw
— _dc4lsports_ (@_dc4lsports_) December 4, 2022
Guy’s gonna look back on his career in 10 years, and the shining moment will be punting the ball to section 200 in Soldier Field after beating the 3-9 Bears. https://t.co/nDuxJ6ui6y
— Steven (@GoCubs49) December 4, 2022
Are they buddies or something? Because if not, this is a super childish comment by Jaire https://t.co/E3xV4bzp2o
— Nico (@elitetakes_) December 4, 2022
Jaire talks more than any corner in the game in situations where he gets cooked.
Congrats on the interception, but got dunked on multiple times today against Equanimeous St. Brown and N'Keal Harry. https://t.co/XGaZP0bcdi
— Duke Coughlin (@ThatPodGuyDuke) December 4, 2022
No way he said this https://t.co/YdTsIeY7N8
— mir (@mirbankss) December 4, 2022
I’m getting real tired of Jaire.
— Gunslinger12 (@Gunslinger127) December 4, 2022
Equanimeous St. Brown is a former teammate of Jaire Alexander…
Alexander also let N'Keal Harry catch a 50-yard pass on him in the game so maybe he shouldn't be talking like that. https://t.co/MpNP3i0ZxX
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 4, 2022
Jaire Alexander gave up over 100 yards receiving on just two plays to Equanimeous St. Brown and N’Keal Harry and is still talking trash 😂 https://t.co/Z70VSKoMAy
— Jack Cavanagh (@javanagh87) December 4, 2022
The most overrated player in the league talking like he is him. Saying this after being 5-8 is especially nasty😭 https://t.co/n0lBDaKmW0
— Riley Kroc (@RiKroc100) December 4, 2022
He talks a lot for getting cooked weekly https://t.co/29LFLVdmZ4
— Beat Georgia (@JuJu_Da_Gamer) December 4, 2022