BAD NEWS: Final injury for Packers-49ers: Jaire Alexander is questionable…
The Green Bay Packers will play the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, with the winner advancing to the NFC Championship Game. Both teams are without one player.
Jaire Alexander, a Green Bay Packers cornerback, is one of four players who are doubtful for Saturday night’s NFC Divisional playoff game at San Francisco 49ers. Alexander was not there for the team’s most comprehensive practice of the week, which began on Thursday before they left Green Bay on Friday. He didn’t practise.
It’s just where he is right now, and hopefully he’ll be ready to go’, said coach Matt LaFleur following practice.
Reporters were only permitted to view the pre-practice stretch. Alexander was nowhere to be found within the Don Hutson Centre. Does this indicate his damaged left ankle won’t be strong enough to face the 49ers’ high-powered passing offence with an NFC Championship game on the line?
Alexander twisted his ankle during last Wednesday’s practice. He did not practise on Thursday or Friday, but after a thorough pregame workout, he began and made a crucial interception against the Cowboys.
“I believe he’s a little further ahead this week than he was last week,” defensive coordinator Joe Barry said after practice on Wednesday. “Last week, to be quite honest with you, when he did what he did on Wednesday, I honestly did not think that there was any chance.” The squad did not practice on Tuesday, and Alexander did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, which was less than an hour long. Afterward, LaFleur expressed hope that Alexander would be able to get some work in during a more thorough Thursday practice that included “real reps” rather than jog-through reps designed to get the team psychologically and physically prepared.
That did not occur, but Alexander suffered no setback, according to LaFleur. Running back AJ Dillon, who has been out the last two games with a stinger and is “day to day,” practiced for the first time in a few weeks, according to LaFleur.
In addition to Alexander and Dillon, linebacker Isaiah McDuffie (neck) and punter Daniel Whelan (illness) are questionable. Enagbare, an outside linebacker, has been ruled out after suffering a serious knee injury. Given the roster’s overall health, there’s no compelling reason to put him on season-ending injured reserve. Enagbare and first-round choice Lukas Van Ness had previously been the No. 2 tandem behind starters Rashan Gary and Preston Smith. If the team prefers to rotate them by pairs rather than individuals, the next man up is undrafted rookie Brenton Cox, who has played less than 10 defensive plays this season.
Regarding Enagbare, Barry stated, “Where he’s gotten to right now in his second year, it’s been great to see. Just a man who came in and worked hard every day, following in the footsteps of Preston and Rashan.
You can look at JJ’s stats and see how much he’s done for us in terms of raw effort and hustle, as well as playing physical and nasty. He’d progressed to the point where he was a valuable member of our running game. He will undoubtedly be missed.
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