Packers-Cowboys Thursday Injury Report: Jaire Alexander Doesn’t Practice
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb led the NFL in receptions this season. Will Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander be available to defend him in Sunday’s wild-card playoff game?
The two-time All-Pro cornerback did not participate when reporters were allowed inside the Don Hutson Center for the start of Thursday’s practice. Alexander missed six consecutive games with a shoulder injury but popped up on Wednesday’s injury report with an ankle injury suffered during the low-intensity walk-through practice.
“It was kind of a freak deal yesterday,” coach Matt LaFleur said after Thursday’s practice. “Unfortunately, stepped on somebody’s foot and rolled his ankle. I know he’s doing everything he can to be available.”
LaFleur called Alexander “day to day” but thought it was best to give Alexander the day off.
Defensive coordinator Joe Barry provided some good news on Thursday.
Alexander did not talk to reporters in the locker room but he did walk down a hallway toward the showers. During a quick peek while walking behind the walls of lockers, he was not wearing a walking boot.
Last week, Alexander returned from a one-week suspension and, by Pro Football Focus’ reckoning of coverage responsibilities, gave up just one catch in the victory over Chicago.
Looming on Sunday is a much tougher matchup against Dak Prescott, Lamb and the high-flying Cowboys, who led the league in scoring. Lamb finished first in the NFL with 135 receptions, second with 1,749 yards and third with 12 touchdowns.
With more receptions and receiving yards than Green Bay’s top two in those categories, Lamb is the favorite receiver of Prescott, who is in the hunt for NFL MVP after throwing a league-high 36 touchdown passes.
Of note, receivers Romeo Doubs (chest) and Christian Watson (hamstring) practiced for a second consecutive day. Doubs was injured during the first quarter against Chicago and briefly hospitalized.
“Feeling a lot better than I felt just throughout that time I’ve been progressing,” Doubs said. “The biggest thing I’m looking forward to is progression throughout the week.”
Watson has missed the last five games.
“In my head, it’s 100 percent” that he’s playing, Watson said. “But, obviously, like last week, still got to prove to them. Not to say I wasn’t doing everything I could before, but I’m doing everything I possibly can to be able to go on Sunday.”
Watson hoped to play against Chicago but did not. At the time, he estimated himself to be “75, 80 percent” healthy. He’d like to get to 90 percent before returning to action.
“That would be the goal,” he said “[Being] 70-75 with the stuff that I do on the field just isn’t enough. Obviously, having the chance to have a playoff run and knowing that we’ve got the guys in the room to do it regardless, obviously, it would’ve been probably worse off if I would’ve gone out there and probably worse off for myself, as well.”
LaFleur said he will have a better feel about the availability of Watson and Doubs after practice on Friday.
Alexander, running back AJ Dillon (neck/thumb) and left guard Elgton Jenkins (knee/ankle) were the only players who did not practice.
Dillon was the only player who did not practice on Wednesday. He said the stinger that held him out of the Chicago game feels “definitely better than last week.”
Jenkins routinely has missed one practice per week to ensure he’s as healthy as possible for the games.
Alexander and the receivers were among 19 players on Wednesday’s injury report.
For the Cowboys, cornerback Stephon Gilmore returned to practice after suffering a dislocated shoulder last week. Dallas has only seven players on the updated report.
Here are the reports:
Packers Thursday Injury Report
CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder/ankle), RB AJ Dillon (thumb/neck), LG Elgton Jenkins (knee/ankle).
Limited participation: WR Romeo Doubs (chest), RB Aaron Jones (knee/finger), LB Isaiah McDuffie (concussion/neck), S Jonathan Owens (knee), DT T.J. Slaton (knee/foot), OLB Preston Smith (ankle), WR Christian Watson (hamstring).
Full participation: LB De’Vondre Campbell (neck), TE Luke Musgrave (kidney), C Josh Myers (neck), WR Jayden Reed (chest), G Sean Rhyan (elbow), S Darnell Savage (shoulder), RT Zach Tom (fingers), LB Quay Walker (shoulder), RB Emanuel Wilson (shoulder).
Cowboys Thursday Injury Report
Did not participate: DT Johnathan Hankins (ankle), RG Zach Martin (rest), LT Tyron Smith (rest).
Limited participation: CB Stephon Gilmore (shoulder), LG Tyler Smith (foot).
Full participation: DE Dorance Armstrong (ankle), S Malik Hooker (ankle).
