Matt LaFleur confirms Packers' worst fears regarding Jaire Alexander
It wasn't supposed to be a long-term injury. Jaire Alexander tried to get back, week after week. But it's over. On Wednesday, head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that the former All-Pro cornerback will be out for the rest of the season because of the knee injury he suffered back in October against the Jacksonville Jaguars. […]
It wasn't supposed to be a long-term injury. Jaire Alexander tried to get back, week after week. But it's over.
On Wednesday, head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that the former All-Pro cornerback will be out for the rest of the season because of the knee injury he suffered back in October against the Jacksonville Jaguars. LaFleur said he had surgery on his knee because of the PCL injury. It was an arthroscopic procedure.
"I would expect Ja, most likely, he is gonna be done for the rest of the year," LaFleur said.
When asked if the reason for that was only the injury, LaFleur confirmed that it's a physical issue.
"It's unfortunate, it is what it is. I feel for him," the head coach added. "Obviously, he was trying to get his knee right, it wasn't getting right. It's a tough deal for all of us."
After Sunday's regular season finale against the Chicago Bears, Jaire Alexander will have missed 34 of the last 68 games for the Packers. He has handled multiple injuries — shoulder, knee, groin. Last year, he also missed one game because of a team-imposed suspension.
According to ESPN's insider Adam Schefter, Jaire could get back in time for the Super Bowl if the Packers go that far.
Future
As he will enter his eighth NFL season in 2025, there are fair questions about what the Packers will do with him. Jaire is under contract for two more seasons, slated to make $17.5 million in 2025 and $19.5 million in 2026.
Even though he still plays at a high level, the lack of availability is a big issue, and it's difficult to allocate such a significant amount of money under these circumstances.
According to Over the Cap, his cap hit in 2025 is $25.376 million. If traded or released, the dead money would be $18.117 million — $7.259 million in cap savings. The Packers would have the option to release him with a post-June 1st designation, leaving behind $7.876 million in dead money in 2025, with $17.5 million in cap savings. In this scenario, though, there would be $10.241 million in dead money in 2026.
That's a decision general manager Brian Gutekunst will have to make in the offseason.
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