Packers-Steelers Final Injury Report: Jaire Alexander, Quay Walker Doubtful
GREEN BAY, Wis. – After missing all three practices this week, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur on Friday listed cornerback Jaire Alexander and linebacker Quay Walker as doubtful for Sunday’s game at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Players who are doubtful almost never play. That means Alexander, who sustained a shoulder injury while trying to make an interception against the Rams, almost certainly will miss a fourth game this season. And Walker seems destined to miss a second consecutive game with a groin injury.
For the Steelers, two defensive starters – elite safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (hamstring) and starting defensive tackle Montravius Adams (ankle), a third-round pick by the Packers in 2017 – are out.
Reporters only get to watch the opening stretch on Fridays. While everyone else ran outside from the Don Hutson Center, Alexander wasn’t even spotted with the rest of the team.
Earlier this season, he was sidelined for three games in a four-game stretch because of his back.
“He’s a hell of a player,” coach Matt LaFleur said after Friday’s practice. “He’s one of the best in the business. Anytime you don’t have him, it doesn’t necessarily help your team.”
Walker did some light jogging on the side but stayed inside after missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday.
So, the Packers (3-5) probably will be down two of their best players for Sunday at the Steelers (5-3). At least there is no long-term concern with Walker, LaFleur said.
Five starters are questionable: defensive tackle Kenny Clark, safety Rudy Ford and offensive linemen Josh Myers, Yosh Nijman and Jon Runyan. All five practiced on Friday.
Two years ago at Lambeau Field, Alexander suffered a shoulder injury against the Steelers that sidelined him for most of the season. This injury, which is to the other shoulder, was sustained while diving for an interception during his excellent performance against the Los Angeles Rams last week.
The latest injury to Alexander, who recently missed three games with a back issue, shows just how fickle depth can be in the NFL.
A month ago, with Eric Stokes working his way back from last year’s season-ending foot injury, defensive coordinator Joe Barry called it “champagne problems” to have so many quality cornerbacks that Stokes, a former first-round pick, had no path to playing time.
From champagne to warm, flat beer.
With Alexander potentially sidelined, Rasul Douglas getting ready for his second game with the Buffalo Bills and Stokes back on injured reserve, the Packers’ starting cornerbacks against Steelers receivers George Pickens and Diontae Johnson could be seventh-round rookie Carrington Valentine and journeyman veteran Corey Ballentine on the outside and Keisean Nixon in the slot.
Robert Rochell – who was on Carolina’s practice squad a couple weeks ago – isn’t just the next man up but the only other man up, though the Packers could sign Innis Gaines from the practice squad to supplement the group.
Jaire Alexander is battling a shoulder injury.
Photo by Mark Hoffman/USA Today Sports Images
“I’d be lying to you if I said you’re not affected by it because you are,” Barry said this week. “But, bottom line, you’ve got to [adapt]. It’s not only our approach as coaches but the attitude and the mindset that the player has. That’s what we continually try to preach that you’ve got to prepare every single day like you could play five plays or you could play 65 plays.”
That’s how it’s been for Valentine. Defensively, he played zero snaps against Las Vegas in Week 5 but all 59 snaps against Denver in Week 6 with Alexander inactive for a third time in four games because of his back. He then played zero snaps against Minnesota in Week 7 but all 58 against the Rams in Week 8 following the trade of Douglas.
Ballentine, who failed to make the opening 53-man roster, played a total of 80 defensive snaps against the Saints in Week 3 and Lions in Week 4.
“I think it’s a credit not only to the position coaches getting those guys ready to play,” Barry continued, “but then also the player having the mindset that, if you take the mindset of a backup, you’re going to go in and play like a backup. You’ve got to take the mindset that, ‘I’m a starter in waiting and my time could happen at any moment.’”
At linebacker, while the Packers are high on third-year player Isaiah McDuffie, Walker is an ascending standout who leads the team in tackles and is tied for first in tackles for losses.
Sticking with the defense, Ford, who was inactive against the Rams with a calf injury, practiced for a third consecutive day.
Clark, who missed the second half of the Rams game with a shoulder injury, also was 3-for-3 on the practice field this week. At the time he was injured, Clark said his level of concern was “high,” but he’s feeling more optimistic.
“I don’t like being hurt, being in and out at practice and all that kind of stuff,” he said. “If I’m out of the game, I definitely couldn’t come back in.”
Four-fifths of last week’s starting offensive line has been limited participation this week. Those four players – left guard Elgton Jenkins (knee), Nijman (back), Myers (knee) and Runyan (neck) – practiced again.
Jenkins was not given an injury designation. The same is true for running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) and receiver Christian Watson (back), who practiced all week and will be on the field on Sunday.
Packers Final Injury Report
Doubtful: LB Quay Walker (groin), CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder).
Questionable: S Rudy Ford (calf), Yosh Nijman (back), C Josh Myers (knee), RG Jon Runyan (neck), DT Kenny Clark (shoulder).
Steelers Final Injury Report
Out: S Minkah Fitzpatrick (hamstring), DT Montravious Adams (ankle).
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