Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander had surgery on his injured right knee and will miss the remainder of the season, as confirmed by head coach Matt LaFleur on Wednesday. The Packers are set to face the Chicago Bears in Week 18 of the regular season before heading to the playoffs as an NFC wild-card team.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Alexander underwent arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday to address pain and swelling in his knee. The team is optimistic that he may be able to return if the Packers progress to the Super Bowl.
LaFleur expressed his sympathy for Alexander, stating, “Ja, most likely, is going to be done for the rest of the year. It’s unfortunate. It is what it is. I feel for him. He was trying to get his knee right, and it wasn’t getting right. It’s a tough deal for all of us.”
The veteran player has been sidelined since Week 11 due to a torn PCL in his right knee, sustained during the Packers’ victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8. Following the injury, Alexander missed the subsequent game against the Detroit Lions and was limited to just 10 snaps when he attempted to play against the Chicago Bears after a bye week.
Initially hopeful of avoiding surgery, Alexander expressed his belief to reporters that the PCL tear was not season-ending. However, despite weeks of rest and non-contact practice, his knee did not show sufficient signs of improvement.
If the remainder of Alexander’s season is indeed over, his 2024 performance includes 16 total tackles, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery. The cornerback is under contract for two more years as part of a four-year, $84 million deal signed before the 2022 season. Nonetheless, injuries have plagued Alexander in recent seasons, causing him to miss a total of 27 games. In 2021, a shoulder injury led to him missing 13 games, and in 2022, he sat out one game due to a groin injury. Additionally, a back injury sidelined him for three games last season.
With no guaranteed money left on Alexander’s contract, the Packers may consider releasing him after June 1 to save $17.5 million in cap space, according to Spotrac.
