Jaire Alexander’s status for Sunday’s showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers doesn’t look promising, which would put even more stress on an already thin cornerback room for the Green Bay Packers.
After previously dealing with a back injury, Alexander left this past Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams “banged up,” as Matt LaFleur described his new shoulder injury on Wednesday. He has now missed both Wednesday and Thursday’s practices this week.
”I’d say so,” said LaFleur on Thursday when asked if there was concern about Alexander’s status for Sunday.
Without Alexander, the Packers will have Keisean Nixon in the slot, Carrington Valentine on the boundary, and either Corey Ballentine or Robert Rochell across from him. They’ll likely make an elevation from the practice squad as well to help bolster the depth at the position.
Valentine was picked on in his first start against Denver a few weeks ago, but he was lights out this past Sunday and brought some much-needed energy to this Packers’ defense. According to PFF, Valentine was targeted eight times and allowed just one reception for 14 yards. He also came away with two pass breakups and recorded two tackles.
“I loved how he went out there and competed, challenged,” said LaFleur on Wednesday. “You could see it really on the first third down, he was getting his hands on guys. Had three PBUs, or whatever it was. I just thought he was playing very competitive football. He was throwing his frame into the fire, so to speak, when he needed to.
”He was a willing tackler, and that’s important at that position, especially with some of these teams that try to get the ball on the perimeter. You need that corner support.”
My guess is that we would see Ballentine get the start opposite of Valentine, given his familiarity with the Joe Barry defense in comparison to Rochell, who was signed off the Carolina practice squad just two weeks ago.
Ballentine has played 80 defensive snaps this season for the Packers in Weeks 3 and 4, where he has been a very willing and capable tackler, even taking over for Valentine against Detroit, with LaFleur mentioning afterward that they made that decision because of Ballentine’s ability to also defend the run. In coverage he has allowed four receptions on six targets at 12.5 yards per catch—all of which came in Week 3 against New Orleans.
”I feel good about it,” said Ballentine about his progress this season. “I feel that it’s a work in progress that doesn’t happen over night. I feel like it’s coming along. I feel like I’ve been making more plays in practice. I have an opportunity and I feel like it’s all there for the taking, for really for anybody that wants to take it.
“I just want to make sure I’m doing what I need to do to get better and put my best foot forward and come out there and really stay healthy and go to practice and focus and be the best I can be that day.”
The Packers defense this week will face a Steelers offense that has “a lot of playmakers,” as LaFleur put it. George Pickens has been Pittsburgh’s most targeted receiver, and one of the best in football on intermediate routes. He currently ranks in the top 10 among all receivers in targets in the 10-19 yard range, total yards and yards per catch on such targets at a whopping 21.9.
Diontae Johnson has been Kenny Pickett’s secondary target this season, catching 66% of his targets at over 13 yards per catch. Johnson has been targeted often on short-area throws and been very good at picking up yards after the catch (YAC). Running back Jaylen Warren is third on the team in targets and has been among the most efficient running backs in football in the passing game, ranking top 10 in targets, yards, and YAC.
“I think they’ve got a lot of playmakers,” said LaFleur. “I know there’s been some inconsistencies there with their offense. Certainly you can never sleep on them. They’ve got playmakers. I think all three of those receivers are really good players. Pickens, he has shown that big play potential. Diontae Johnson. Obviously, Najee, he’s a problem in terms of just a big physical back. And they got Warren, the other back. They’ve got a lot of playmakers. You’ve got to do a great job of being consistent and not letting those guys get loose.”
The Packers defensive front can play a key role in helping the shorthanded cornerback position out. Slowing the Pittsburgh run game, which ranks 26th in yards per carry, will make the offense one-dimensional, putting them into predictable passing situations. Getting after Pickett, against an offensive line that ranks fifth in pressure rate allowed, will force Pickett off his spot, have to hurry, and then hopefully lead to mistakes. Pickett this season ranks 29th in completion rate out of 32 quarterbacks and 26th in yards per attempt.
It was just a few weeks ago that Joe Barry called the Packers situation at cornerback a “champagne problem,” referencing the team’s need to find playing time for Eric Stokes, Rasul Douglas, Jaire Alexander, and Keisean Nixon. Fast forward to today and Stokes is on IR, Douglas is in Buffalo, and it doesn’t look like Alexander will play against Pittsburgh.
“Any time you’re without starters or elite players it’s going to hurt,” said Barry on Thursday. “But they’re going to kick the ball off and we are going to have to play. Those kids have been doing a good job filling in. I tell you guys all the time, if you prepare like you’re one play away from being a starter, that’s the mindset that we preach. Whosever going to go on Sunday will be ready.”
