Rob Demovsky, ESPN Staff Writer January 11, 2024, 4:34 pm ET
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- Rob Demovsky is an NFL reporter for ESPN covering the Green Bay Packers. He has covered the Packers since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2013. Demovsky was twice named Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year by the NSSA. You can follow him on Twitter at @RobDemovsky.
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Jaire Alexander has dealt with three different injuries this season, and only one of them occurred during a game.
The latest problem for the Green Bay Packers cornerback came on Wednesday when he twisted an ankle during a half-speed practice. It could jeopardize his availability for Sunday's NFC wild-card playoff game at the second-seeded Dallas Cowboys.
“So it was kind of a crazy deal yesterday,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Thursday. “I mean, because you saw that we mostly jogged through, and unfortunately only [he] Stepped on someone's foot and twisted their ankle. I know he's doing everything he can to be available and I would say it's everyday life and we thought it was obviously best not to let him train today.”
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Asked if he had ever seen a player get injured on a run, LaFleur said: “Well, that happened. It doesn't happen very regularly and it was just a crazy deal. It's not that it was him, it was me. “Meaning he was locked in, focused, doing everything we asked him to do, and unfortunately he just stepped on someone's toes and then it happened.”
Alexander only played in seven games during the regular season.
Earlier this season, he missed three games due to a back injury sustained during a practice when he collided with practice squad quarterback Alex McGough, who was also the scout team safety.
He then missed six games because of the shoulder injury he suffered on November 5 against the Los Angeles Rams. He also missed the Week 17 game after being suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. He returned last week for the season finale against the Chicago Bears and played every defensive snap in the game that clinched the Packers' playoff spot.
Alexander did not speak to reporters on Thursday but was seen in the locker room without a noticeable limp or any protection on either of his ankles.
If the Packers don't have Alexander against the Cowboys' potent offense, they would like to use Corey Ballentine, who has started six games this season and has more interceptions (one) than Alexander. Their other starting cornerback was seventh-round rookie Carrington Valentine (12 starts), with veteran Keisean Nixon at slot corner.
The only two players other than Alexander who missed Thursday's practice were guard Elgton Jenkins (who received a day of rest) and running back AJ Dillon (stinger). All of their receivers — including Romeo Doubs (who left Sunday's game with a chest injury that required a hospital visit) and Christian Watson (who missed the last five games with a hamstring injury) — were on the field at least at some capacity.