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Jaire Alexander

NFC North Notes: Alexander, Bears, Lions

March 29th, 2022 at 5:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers were unable to reach an extension agreement with Davante Adams, leading to a blockbuster trade following a franchise tag. Brian Gutekunst would prefer the Jaire Alexander process conclude before a potential Alexander tag comes into play. The fifth-year Packers GM said the team “would love” to extend Alexander this offseason, via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman (on Twitter). Gutekunst confirmed the Packers and Alexander are in talks, which became known earlier this month, and said the discussions could continue throughout the year. Alexander finds himself in an interesting position, coming off a season a shoulder injury mostly nullified. But the one-time Pro Bowler is still eyeing a top-market extension. Alexander figures to face a decision on playing out a contract year ahead of a potential tag or taking long-term security — at likely a slightly lower price — before the season.

Here is the latest from the NFC North:

  • Larry Ogunjobi was onboard with the Bears for fewer than five days, with the team nixing the defensive tackle’s deal due to a failed physical. New Bears GM Ryan Poles is open to agreeing to another contract with Ogunjobi, per ESPN.com’s Courney Cronin, who notes the failed physical stemmed from the former Browns and Bengals D-lineman’s surgically repaired right foot (Twitter link). Ogunjobi suffered a foot injury during the Bengals’ wild-card win. Poles noted the Bears’ deal with Ogunjobi prevented them from adding other free agents during the legal tampering period, per Adam Jahns of The Athletic (subscription required).
  • Viewing Trevor Siemian as a better fit in the offense Luke Getsy is installing, Poles said (via Jahns) he hopes a Nick Foles trade emerges in the near future. But nothing is on the horizon, continuing this holding pattern for the former Super Bowl MVP. Foles is due a $4MM base salary in 2022, the final year of his contract. Foles has the Bears’ fourth-largest cap number ($10.7MM); a trade would let the Bears off the hook for Foles’ salary but still hand the team a $6MM-plus dead-money charge.
  • Although the Bears gutted their front seven by trading Khalil Mack, cutting Danny Trevathan and not re-signing Akiem Hicks, Poles said the team is not planning to move on from Robert Quinn. No Quinn trade scenario has come up, Poles said (via Jahns, on Twitter). Quinn’s $17.1MM cap figure is the largest on the Bears’ 2022 payroll. Despite going into his age-32 season, Quinn boosted his trade value last year by breaking Richard Dent‘s franchise single-season sack record.
  • Prior to Chandon Sullivan‘s Vikings agreement, the Packers made a late push to keep him, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. Sullivan spent the past three seasons with the Packers, who have a need at slot cornerback thanks to his defection to a division rival. The Broncos also pursued Sullivan but signed K’Waun Williams days before news of Sullivan’s Vikings agreement surfaced.
  • The Lions will primarily use a 4-3 defense next season, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press notes. Detroit started last season by changing to a 3-4 look, but Aaron Glenn‘s unit adjusted a bit down the stretch. Prior to last season, the Lions had used a 4-3 look for many years.

Packers CB Jaire Alexander Seeking Top-Of-The-Market Extension

March 27th, 2022 at 9:26am CST by Rory Parks

Following the Aaron Rodgers extension, the Davante Adams trade, and a host of other moves, the Packers currently possess a little more than $15MM in cap space, per OverTheCap.com. Of course, Green Bay still needs to maintain sufficient room to sign its rookie class and make in-season transactions, and as Matt Schneidman of The Athletic (subscription required) writes, the club might be interested in a free agent wide receiver like Odell Beckham Jr.  or Will Fuller now that Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are out of the picture.

In other words, the Packers would still like to create more cap room, and per Schneidman, the most obvious way to achieve that goal would be to extend cornerback Jaire Alexander. As we heard earlier this month, Green Bay and Alexander’s camp have engaged in negotiations on a long-term pact.

One potential snag is that, according to Schneidman, Alexander is seeking a contract that would make him the highest-paid corner in the league. Currently, Rams CB Jalen Ramsey is the clubhouse leader in terms of both AAV ($20MM) and practical guarantees ($71.2MM).

Alexander, a member of the 2018 All-Rookie team who had established himself as a quality starter over his first two years in the league, had a breakout in 2020, earning his first Pro Bowl nod and Second Team All-Pro recognition. The advanced analytics at Pro Football Focus supported those honors with a tremendous 90.5 overall grade, and Green Bay made the easy decision to exercise Alexander’s fifth-year option for the 2022 season, which guarantees him a $13.3MM salary.

Unfortunately, Alexander played in just four regular season games in 2021 thanks to an October shoulder injury, and while he did return for Green Bay’s lone postseason contest, he appeared in just eight snaps in the Packers’ snowy upset at the hands of the 49ers. So while it stands to reason that he would shoot for the moon based on his career trajectory up to the 2021 campaign, it also makes sense that the team is uncomfortable authorizing a Ramsey-esque contract at this point.

If Alexander wants top-of-the market money, he may have to wait until next offseason and turn in a fully-healthy 2022 season reminiscent of his 2020 efforts. If he is willing to sacrifice a bit of earning potential in exchange for a lesser contract that will still provide him with a significant amount of guaranteed money, perhaps he and the Packers can find some middle ground in the coming weeks.

Packers Negotiating Extension With Jaire Alexander

March 7th, 2022 at 10:58am CST by Adam La Rose

The Packers have a number of decisions to make to get under the salary cap in time for the start of free agency. One way they could create some room for the 2022 season – and make a long-term commitment to a major piece of their defense in the process – is signing cornerback Jaire Alexander to an extension. 

As Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith writes, that could take place soon. The Packers are engaged in talks for a “long-term” deal, something that wouldn’t come as a surprise given the 25-year-old’s level of play in his career. He entered the 2021 campaign with Pro Bowl and Second Team All-Pro honors already to his name, although the 2022 season didn’t go as planned.

Due to a shoulder injury suffered in October, Alexander was limited to four games played. He registered 13 tackles, one interception and three pass breakups, while maintaining his high-end coverage performance. For his career, he has 188 total tackles, five picks and 44 pass breakups.

A first rounder in 2018, Alexander is currently slated to play the 2022 season on his fifth year option. Without a new deal, he will earn a guaranteed $13.3MM – a figure which would represent a comparative bargain given where he ranks amongst the league’s top corners, but that the Packers could try to lower for short-term breathing room. For that reason, Smith notes, any new pact would likely involve more money paid as a signing bonus spread over the length of the contract.

A new deal doesn’t have to get done for Alexander to play in 2022, but doing so sooner rather than later would have benefits for both team and player in this case. In any event, the Packers still have a long way to go to reach cap compliance, so more moves of some kind will be forthcoming.

David Bakhtiari Not Playing Vs. Niners

January 22nd, 2022 at 6:37pm CST by Ely Allen

Nine-year veteran tackle David Bakhtiari missed nearly the entire 2021 NFL season after tearing his ACL on New Year’s Eve during the 2020 season. Unfortunately, he will have to continue waiting to play in his first playoff game since January of 2019, as the team announced, via Twitter, that he will be inactive for tonight’s game against the 49ers. 

Bakhtiari had made a return for the Packers’ regular season finale, making the start in Detroit, but only playing 40% of the team’s offensive snaps. Head Coach Matt LaFleur shook off the early exit in a postgame press conference stating, “I wouldn’t say it’s anything we’re concerned about,” but it appears some continual discomfort throughout the week will keep the two-time All Pro from making a postseason return, just yet.

In the absence of Bakhtiari this year, the Packers have employed Elgton Jenkins at the blindside tackle position. Despite the reshuffled offensive line and several other injuries to key players, Green Bay still secured a first-round bye and homefield advantage. They will work tonight to extend their season another week and give Bakhtiari at least one more chance for a postseason return.

Other inactives for the Packers listed for the game tonight were safeties Shawn Davis & Vernon Scott, linebacker Jonathan Garvin, and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. The 49ers will be without cornerbacks Ambry Thomas & Deommodore Lenoir, safety Jarrod Wilson, running back Trey Sermon, linebacker Marcell Harris, offensive lineman Jaylon Moore, and defensive lineman Maurice Hurst. Packers’ cornerback Jaire Alexander is expected to play tonight after being listed as questionable.

NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/7/22

January 7th, 2022 at 6:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s updates for the Reserve/COVID-19 list:

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Latest On Packers’ Injured Players

January 7th, 2022 at 2:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite many of their top players not seeing much action this season, the Packers secured the NFC’s No. 1 seed for a second straight year. Green Bay’s injured players have additional time to prepare for the playoffs, thanks to the first-round bye, and some are rounding into form.

David Bakhtiari has not played since suffering an ACL tear during practice on New Year’s Eve 2020. However, the All-Pro left tackle practiced fully for the first time this season Friday. He is questionable for Sunday’s game in Detroit. Matt LaFleur said the ninth-year veteran blocker looked “really good” in practice this week, and although the third-year HC will not commit to playing him Sunday, a return for the Packers’ first playoff game should now be expected (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky).

Out since suffering a shoulder injury in Week 4, Jaire Alexander is ramping up after being activated from IR recently. LaFleur said the Pro Bowl cornerback will not play in Week 18. Alexander returned from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday, and the lack of practice time this week led to LaFleur’s decision to keep him on ice another week. Signs point to Alexander returning for Green Bay’s first playoff game.

Center Josh Myers will return against the Lions, LaFleur said. The Packers officially activated Myers from IR, and he has no injury designation going into Sunday’s game. The second-round rookie has been out since suffering a knee injury on the first drive of the Packers’ Week 6 game.

Lucas Patrick has taken over at center and is in line to keep that first-string gig this week, but LaFleur is not ruling out Myers returning as a starter in the playoffs, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets. A scenario in which both are in the team’s starting lineup will almost certainly be in play.

Although the team designated Randall Cobb for return last week, the veteran slot receiver will not come back against the Lions. This adds up, with Cobb’s core injury requiring several weeks’ worth of rehab. Cobb is tracking toward a playoff return, Demovsky tweets. Regarding Aaron Rodgers‘ status for the Detroit rematch, he will start. LaFleur did not necessarily plan to start the MVP favorite, indicating he does not believe Rodgers needs to play Sunday. But the QB prefers to start, Silverstein tweets.

NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/3/22

January 3rd, 2022 at 8:56pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Monday’s activations from and placements on the reserve/COVID-19 lists:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OT Mike Remmers (remains on IR)

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Raymond Calais (remains on IR)

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/29/21

December 29th, 2021 at 5:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Designated for return: OG Xavier Su’a-Filo

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Packers To Activate Jaire Alexander From IR

December 29th, 2021 at 11:28am CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers have played most of this season without some of their best players, but the team will move another Pro Bowl talent back to its active roster. Jaire Alexander will be activated from IR on Wednesday, Matt LaFleur said (via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, on Twitter).

Alexander has been out since Week 4 with a shoulder injury. The Packers’ impending activation adds up, since Alexander must be moved back onto their 53-man roster by this afternoon or revert to season-ending IR.

Joining David Bakhtiari and Za’Darius Smith in not factoring into Green Bay’s recent push for the NFC’s bye, Alexander is not a lock to return to action this week. LaFleur is eyeing a “gradual” return for the fourth-year veteran, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets. The Packers activated Bakhtiari weeks ago but have not seen him suit up yet. Smith remains on IR. That said, Alexander returning to practice three weeks ago marked a good sign for his late-season availability.

The team has held out hope both Alexander and Smith will be back this season. Alexander opted against undergoing a shoulder surgery that would have ended his season in October. While the Packers have seen his recovery take extensive time, they have nevertheless managed to remain atop the NFC without a few cornerstone players.

A 2018 first-round pick, Alexander broke through last season for his first Pro Bowl. The Louisville product is Green Bay’s top cornerback, but the team invested a first-round pick in Eric Stokes this offseason. Both Stokes and in-season pickup Rasul Douglas have played well. Alexander, however, has a longer track record of success. With his fifth-year option season looming in 2022, Alexander will be on the radar for a big-ticket extension in the offseason.

Jaire Alexander Returns To Practice

December 8th, 2021 at 12:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the Packers’ injured standouts is moving close to a return. Jaire Alexander will practice for the Packers on Wednesday, per ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky (on Twitter).

This will start the Pro Bowl cornerback’s 21-day IR-activation clock. The Packers must move Alexander back onto their active roster by Dec. 29 or place him on season-ending IR. Alexander has not played since Week 4. Alexander is likely to be eased back into action, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets, so a Week 14 return may not be in the cards.

A shoulder injury has sidelined Alexander for most of this season, and although the Packers have maintained on defense despite Za’Darius Smith missing almost all of the year as well, having their top cover man back would certainly be a big bonus. Green Bay is a game back of Arizona for the NFC’s lone bye, with Tampa Bay joining the Packers at 9-3.

Alexander, who broke through for his first Pro Bowl in 2020, could have opted for a surgery that would have ended his season. But the fourth-year defender did not take that route, keeping the door open for a late-season return. The Packers have expected both he and Smith to be back late this year, but the latter’s return timetable has yet to take shape.

Regardless of Alexander’s return status, the former first-round pick will be in position to score a lucrative extension. The Packers picked up the Louisville alum’s fifth-year option, and with 2021 first-round corner Eric Stokes early in his rookie contract, a clear window will open for Alexander to land a top-tier deal.

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