Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander was suspended for one game for actions taken during a coin toss versus Carolina.
Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble rushes against Green Bay Packers safety Anthony Johnson Jr. (36) and cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Green Bay, Wis. (AP): Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander has been suspended by the team for Sunday night’s must-win duel against Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings.
The decision arises from, but wasn’t limited to, Alexander naming himself a captain for the Packers’ 33-30 Christmas Eve win at Carolina.
“It’s never for one thing,” said coach Matt LaFleur, who made the decision with general manager Brian Gutekunst. “I think there’s a lot of lessons along the way from everybody engaged and hopefully we learn from them. I suppose we will. I think there will probably be improved communication moving forward.
The decision to suspend a player is never easy and not one we take lightly,” Gutekunst said in a statement. Unfortunately, Jaire’s conduct before the game in Carolina caused us to take this measure. As a company, we have an expectation that everyone puts the team first.
While we are unhappy, we had a wonderful talk with Jaire this morning, and we fully expect him to learn from this as we move forward together. We look forward to having him back next week, as he is a key member of this team and will continue to be in the future.
Alexander returned to Green Bay’s lineup versus Carolina after missing six games with a shoulder injury. LaFleur didn’t pick him as one of his three weekly captains. Because the game was being played in his hometown of Charlotte, Alexander felt he should be the captain. So, he made himself one.
I don’t think Coach realized I was from Charlotte, Alexander stated after the game.
Making matters worse, he almost cost the Packers a possession.
When the Packers won the toss, Alexander indicated the defense wanted to be on the field first rather than indicating he wanted to delay the choice to the second half. Fortunately for the Packers, LaFleur had briefed the officiating crew, led by Alex Kemp, what he wanted in advance.
I said, ‘I want our defense to be out there,’ and they all looked at me like I was crazy,” Alexander recounted. “It’s really straightforward,” I said. ‘I want the defense to be out there.’ They like, ‘You mean defer?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, I guess.’ ”
The suspension means Alexander won’t be on the field for Sunday night’s game at Minnesota. Both clubs are 7-8 and need a win to stay in the NFC postseason race.
Jefferson figures to be a major element of Minnesota’s game plan, no matter who begins at quarterback for the Vikings. The Vikings haven’t specified whether they will start Jaren Hall, Nick Mullens, or Joshua Dobbs at quarterback.
Jefferson has the NFL record for most receiving yards by a player through his first four seasons. Jefferson averages 102.9 yards receiving per game this season, ranking behind only Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill among all NFL players. Jefferson missed the Vikings’ 24-10 victory at Green Bay earlier this season because he was on injured reserve with a hamstring ailment.
With Mullens at quarterback for the Vikings’ 30-24 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Jefferson caught six catches for 141 yards and one touchdown.
Jefferson has been almost unstoppable in his past two home games against the Packers. He grabbed eight passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-31 victory over the Packers in 2021 and had nine grabs for 184 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-7 triumph in 2022.
Alexander missed the 2021 game with a shoulder ailment and wasn’t used to shadowing Jefferson in 2022.
Against Alexander, Alexander started with Eric Stokes. With Alexander missing a total of nine games because of injury and Rasul Douglas getting sent to the Buffalo Bills at the trade deadline, youngster Carrington Valentine has started 10 games and veteran Corey Ballentine has started five.
Next man up, LaFleur said. That’s the mentality, no matter what position. It’s a competitive environment and we’re going to put the people in there that we feel are going to give us the best opportunity to win the football game.
NOTES: The Packers performed a walkthrough practice. WR Jayden Reed (toe) and S Darnell Savage (shoulder), who were absent last week, had limited participation. WRs Christian Watson (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (chest/ankle), LB De’Vondre Campbell (neck) and LG Elgton Jenkins (shoulder) didn’t participate. … The Vikings won 24-10 on Oct. 29. “I think we’ve developed a lot, QB Jordan Love said. “Just watching our first game that we played the Vikings and seeing plays that are being made, some of the lost opportunities we had, I think we’re obviously a different squad and a different offensive
