Things were looking pretty good for the Green Bay Packers heading into Week 16. With just one more win to clinch a playoff berth, Green Bay was getting a Saints team that's already eliminated from playoff contention, starting their third-string quarterback, in freezing conditions. Plus, it's still Toyotathon.
But then tonight's twist arrived shortly before kickoff: cornerback Jaire Alexander was listed – among four other defensive starters – on the team's inactive list. (Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, and Quay Walker were the other three.)
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero tweeted that despite being a full participant in practice all week, they still feel like Alexander isn't quite game-ready yet.
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"He was listed as a full participant this week in practice. But he's not himself. They'll reevaluate next week," Pelissero reported.
Jaire Alexander was a surprise inactive for Week 16's MNF game against the Saints
This will now be the fourth straight game that Alexander's missed with a knee injury, and it'll be the eighth game he's missed this season.
It's odd that he was a full participant in Packers' practice all week and wasn't able to go, but as some people have pointed out, the temperatures and conditions of Lambeau Field during Monday night's game probably aren't ideal for a cornerback trying to come back from/fight through a nagging knee injury. (Though it'd be awfully bold of Matt LaFleur to presumptively rest starters before, you know, actually clinching a playoff berth.)
When he's on the field, Alexander plays like one of the best corners in football. Staying on the field has been an issue for him, though, and Monday night will be the 31st game he's missed in his last 66 for the Packers.
In the limited amount of time he's played this year, Alexander's Pro Football Focus grade is almost identical to last season (75) and would currently end as the third-best season of his career; his coverage grade (78.3) is especially strong, ranking 13th best among all qualified corners in the NFL.