Packers-Chargers Inactives: Jaire Alexander Out; Rashan Gary Will Play
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers will be down two of their starters in the secondary for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers with cornerback Jaire Alexander and safety Rudy Ford highlighting the inactives.
Outside linebacker Rashan Gary will play and inside linebacker Quay Walker is back in the starting lineup.
Gary, who was added to Friday’s injury report as questionable with a shoulder injury, is second on the team with 4.5 sacks, with Preston Smith leading the way with 5.0. Since a three-sack game against the Saints in Week 3 and one sack against Las Vegas in Week 5, Gary has gone four games without a sack.
Still, his impact is obvious. According to Pro Football Focus, Gary has 34 total pressures. The other outside linebackers on the roster have combined for 35: 20 for Smith, eight for Kingsley Enagbare and seven for Lukas Van Ness.
Since signing a contract extension on Oct. 30, he had five pressures against the Rams but only one last week against the Steelers.
Walker is back after missing the last two games with a groin injury. He leads the team in tackles and has double-digits in three of seven games. He was questionable on the injury report.
Alexander’s absence – his fifth in 10 games – is a big deal considering the opponent, which features the prolific tandem of quarterback Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen. Allen is a one-man receiver corps with his league-leading 73 receptions. He’s the league’s ultimate go-to player on third down.
“Him at 80 percent is better than most at 100 percent,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “But you’ve always got to look out for the player. Can they protect themselves? Are they going to put themselves at further risk? If that’s in question in either one of those cases, then you’re not going to put a guy out there. Also, the player’s input. How do they feel?
“We’ll see where he’s at on Sunday and if he’s good, we’d love to him out there. That’s for sure because he makes us a better team. There’s no question about it.”
The Packers will face Herbert without Alexander and Ford, who is out with a biceps injury. Ford did not practice all week and was doubtful.
The Packers figure to go with Carrington Valentine and Corey Ballentine at corner again; Anthony Johnson will join Jonathan Owens at safety.
The other inactives are new cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly and the usual trio of offensive tackle Caleb Jones, outside linebacker Brenton Cox and receiver Samori Toure. This marks a third consecutive game that Malik Heath is up over Toure.
That Cox is inactive would indicate Gary is relatively healthy and shouldn’t be under any restrictions.
For the Chargers, tight end Gerald Everett and receiver Jalen Guyton lead the inactives. Former Wisconsin receiver Alex Erickson was elevated from the practice squad on Saturday to replace Guyton.
