Packers suspend cornerback Jaire Alexander one game for conduct detrimental to the team

GREEN BAY – With the NFL’s youngest roster, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur deviated from his usual protocol before the season, choosing not to select permanent captains.

It’s been a weekly rotation of choosing one player from the offense, defense and special teams to represent the Packers for a game’s opening coin toss. At times, LaFleur has chosen players who once played for the opponent on that given week. Other times, his selections have appeared more random from the outside.

Cornerback Jaire Alexander, among the Packers’ most senior players, is from Charlotte, North Carolina, where the team played on Christmas Eve. In his first game back after missing six weeks with a shoulder injury, Alexander felt he should be a captain in his hometown. He indicated his return from an injury that, in Alexander’s opinion, would have led other players to cut short their season as a reason he was worthy of the honor.

LaFleur thought the uncertainty of Alexander’s status for last week made it difficult for him to be selected as a captain for the coin flip, given he might not play in the game.

“I think there are a lot of reasons,” LaFleur said, “when you go through and you determine who a captain is. Certainly, to me, it’s never about what ability you are as a player. That has nothing to do with it. It has everything to do with how you treat the team, how you show up and prepare for a daily basis, and I’m not saying he was bad in that regard. It’s not about him. I’m just saying what the thought process (is), and it entails, the ability to be a captain.

“It’s something we rotate around, in terms of who’s a captain. Certainly when a guy has been in and out, it’s hard to anoint them a captain for a game when you’re not sure if they’re going to be available or not.”

Jaire Alexander's call on the coin flip could have cost the Packers, but there's more to the suspension

Alexander was available Sunday. He wasn’t staying on the sideline. When Aaron Jones, Quay Walker and Eric Wilson walked to midfield for the opening coin toss against the Panthers, Alexander not only joined them, but almost deviated from LaFleur’s plan to defer. Alexander unwittingly said the Packers wanted their defense on the field. That decision is different than deferring and could have resulted in the Panthers getting possession to start both halves.

LaFleur told the officials his plans if the Packers won the coin toss prior to Sunday’s game, allowing his team to have a mulligan. He still called it a “big mistake” from Alexander. The biggest mistake, in the Packers’ view, was Alexander putting himself before the team.

NFL world reacts:Jaire Alexander's suspension has Packers fans split

Alexander was suspended one game Wednesday for the decision to assign himself as captain, though it was a culmination of a season-long frustration. He will not be available Sunday when the Packers travel to the Minnesota Vikings, preventing them from shadowing receiver Justin Jefferson with their best cornerback in a game with playoff implications hanging in the balance.

The suspension, a joint decision made between general manager Brian Gutekunst and LaFleur, is a strong statement against players going rogue.

“The decision to suspend a player is never easy and not one we take lightly,” Gutekunst said in a statement the team released. “Unfortunately, Jaire’s actions prior to the game in Carolina led us to take this step. As an organization, we have an expectation that everyone puts the team first. While we are disappointed, we had a good conversation with Jaire this morning and fully expect him to learn from this as we move forward together. We look forward to welcoming him back next week as he is a valued member of this team and will continue to be in the future.”

Matt LaFleur expects Jaire Alexander back in the Packers lineup for the finale against the Bears

LaFleur also emphasized the team is anticipating Alexander to return for the season finale next week against the Chicago Bears. The team had “a long conversation” with Alexander on Wednesday morning, which LaFleur found “very productive.” He’s hopeful their communication will continue to improve, LaFleur said.

“I absolutely am confident that the relationship between me and Jaire 100% will be better for this,” LaFleur said. “I really believe it. We had a great conversation this morning, and I’m looking forward to having him back as part of this football team, and being a big part of it moving forward.”

When asked if Alexander was only suspended because for the decision to appoint himself as captain, or if it was an accumulation of things, LaFleur said, “It’s never for one thing.” He made clear the suspension had nothing to do with Alexander’s absence the previous six weeks, a situation that had frustrated the Packers. The team decided not to put Alexander on injured reserve, which would have cost Alexander four games but opened a roster spot. LaFleur has said it was a “miscalculation” on the team’s part not to place Alexander on IR.

Jaire Alexander is a 'great teammate' with a 'unique personality'

It's not the first time Alexander has made clear his displeasure about not being selected as a Packers captain. Alexander was a captain in 2021, but he was left off that list when the team voted on permanent captains last season. He acknowledged taking the vote personally, while also saying he was happy for those who were selected captain.

“I’ll keep doing what I’m doing,” Alexander said.

That has included wonky interviews during his weekly media gatherings in the locker room. Alexander is the one player who regularly wears swag while doing interviews, an entertaining side attraction to his frequent inability to answer direct questions. Before the Packers traveled to the New York Giants earlier this month, Alexander drew ire from the team while shined light to his prediction the Packers would win out. The Packers instead lost their next two games.

LaFleur did not say what other issues led to his suspension, but that it was a necessary decision.

“He has a unique personality,” quarterback Jordan Love said, “but I think Jaire is a great teammate. I think he always has the right interests in his heart, and he’s always trying to be out there and put his best foot forward on the field.”

The Packers won't be able to put Jaire Alexandder on the Vikings' Justin Jefferson in a must-win game

Alexander’s absence will be painful this week. While the Packers are aware of the stakes in suspending their top cornerback, it will prevent Alexander from covering Jefferson in their biggest game of the season Sunday in Minnesota.

The Packers decided not to match Alexander against Jefferson when the two teams opened their 2022 season in Minnesota. The Vikings won 23-7 with Jefferson catching nine passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns. When the Vikings traveled to Lambeau Field last December, Alexander matched one of the NFL’s top receivers. The Packers won 41-17 with Jefferson catching only one pass for 15 yards.

Jefferson did not play when the Vikings traveled to Lambeau Field earlier this season, a 24-10 Packers loss. He’s since been activated from injured reserve and had six catches for 141 yards and a touchdown last week against Detroit. If the Packers keep Jefferson in check Sunday, they’ll do it without Alexander.

“We still got dogs in the room,” cornerback Eric Stokes said. “It don’t matter. It’s time for CV (Carrington Valentine), me, CB (Corey Ballentine), Kei (Keisean Nixon), all of us. We’ve got dogs in the room. It’s just not Ja. It’s just not Ja. Yeah, it’s a big loss, but we’ve got other dogs, we’ve got other animals in the room too.”

Stokes said he was surprised to find out in a team meeting Wednesday morning Alexander was suspended, but also that he stood by the Packers’ decision. He had not spoken with Alexander as of Wednesday afternoon, but Stokes said he also stood by his teammate.

The Packers are taking a gamble with Alexander’s suspension coming in an important week, but LaFleur believes the team and its top cornerback will benefit in the long run.

“I think in the long run, although it’s painful now,” LaFleur said, “I think we’re all going to be better for this moving forward.” “… I think there’s a lot of lessons along the way from everybody involved, and hopefully we learn from them. I think we will. I think there will be probably better communication moving forward, and I think Ja’ is going to be here a long time. He’s a hell of a player. Just looking to move past this and learn from it, and we’ll all move forward and be better for it.”