23 Days Until Training Camp: Alexander the Great
GREEN BAY, Wis. – At minicamp, Jaire Alexander took a seat near his locker to talk to a large group of reporters.
“How are you?” he was asked.
“I’m good,” Alexander replied with a smile.
Alexander, indeed, is good.
The Green Bay Packers’ star cornerback isn’t just good. He’s great. A first-round pick in 2018, he was a second-team All-Pro in 2020, then returned after missing most of the 2021 season with an injury to earn second-team honors again in 2022.
Over the last four seasons, Alexander is one of 99 cornerbacks to start at least 16 games. From that group, according to Stathead, Alexander ranks 14th in completion percentage (54.8), 12th in passer rating (73.7) and 10th in passes defensed (44).
According to Sports Info Solutions, Alexander allowed completion rates of 48.5 percent in 2019, 42.3 percent in 2020 and 46.7 percent in 2021. He was the only cornerback to allow sub-50 percent completion rates during those three seasons. That rose to 56.5 percent in 2022, but he was at his big-play best.
Jeff Alexander (Photo by Mark Hoffman/USA Today Sports Images)
Of Alexander’s 10 career interceptions, five came last season. Of those five interceptions, Alexander and teammate Rasul Douglas led the NFL with four fourth-quarter interceptions.
More than just a coverage ace who craves the big matchups, such as his signature shutdown of Vikings star Justin Jefferson in Week 17, he added a career-high eight tackles for no gain or behind the line of scrimmage and ranked in the top third among corners in PFF's missed-tackle percentage.
“I think he’s one of the top players at his position in this game,” new passing game coordinator Greg Williams said at the start of OTAs. “He’s a fierce competitor and I think that’s a part of the position that he plays that you have to have and he does have that. I’m excited to work with him and help him accelerate his game to possibly another level.”
Alexander might have skipped the three weeks of OTAs, but he’ll be ready for the season in his own unique style. While most of Alexander’s teammates went their separate ways at the end of minicamp, he intended to work in the solitude of Lambeau Field to get ready for his sixth year in the NFL.
“This past season, I think I might’ve spent a few months here in Green Bay [after the season],” Alexander said. “All I was thinking about was the season and the upcoming season. In Green Bay’s there’s not much to do so, if you love the sport, you’re probably just going to think about it all the time.”
Countdown to Packers Training Camp
24 days until training camp: Big question at kicker
24 days until training camp: From No. 1 to No. 24 in red zone
25 days until training camp: Big question at cornerback
25 days until training camp: From No. 1 to No. 25 in tackling
26 days until training camp: Big question at safety
26 days until training camp: The key to the defense is No. 26
27 days until training camp: Big question at inside linebacker
27 days until training camp: 27 sources of inspiration
28 days until training camp: Big question at outside linebacker
28 days until training camp: At least they’re consistent
29 days until training camp: Big question at defensive line
29 days: Keisean Nixon’s surprise stardom
30 days until training camp: Big question at offensive line
30 days until training camp: 30th in key defensive stat
31 days until training camp: Big question at tight end
31 days until training camp: A killer No. 31 ranking
32 days until training camp: Big question at receiver
32 days until training camp: 32nd-ranked receivers
33 days until training camp: Big question at running back
33 days until training camp: No. 33, Aaron Jones, is a great player
