Packers-49ers Inactives: Jaire Alexander Will Play Against 49ers, AJ Dillon Will Not
GREEN BAY, Wis. – While he didn’t practice this week, the expectation throughout the day on Saturday was that cornerback Jaire Alexander will be in the lineup for the Green Bay Packers’ playoff game at the San Francisco 49ers.
That expectation turned into a reality when the Packers officially have him active for Saturday night's showdown in Santa Clara.
The team only practiced on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Alexander was not part of those. Rather, just like last week, his focus was on rehabbing his injured left ankle so he’d be as close to 100 percent as possible for Saturday night’s game.
“I think he’s a little bit further ahead this week than obviously he was last week,” defensive coordinator Joe Barry said this week.
Alexander rolled his ankle at last week’s Wednesday practice. His availability at Dallas wasn’t confirmed until a pregame workout.
“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,” Barry said. “Just him being the way he is, he stayed locked in, he stayed wired in in the game plan and when we got to Saturday, he said, ‘I’m going to give it a shot.”
Alexander did more than give it a shot. He had a game-changing interception to help put the Packers in front 14-0. He aggravated the injury late in the third quarter and sat out the final 20 minutes of a 48-32 win.
“I give all the credit in the world to him,” Barry said. “Just for him to stay locked into the game plan, just for him to stay so focused on Thursday, on Friday on Saturday, and then be able to not only go play but play the way he did, it’s a credit to him as a pro.”
Alexander’s presence was critical against Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and the high-flying Cowboys, and it would be just as important against the 49ers on Saturday.
It goes without saying that the Packers needed Alexander to be active for this game.
Brock Purdy led the NFL in passer rating and yards per attempt. Receiver Brandon Aiyuk finished seventh in receiving yards and second in yards per catch. Receiver Deebo Samuel, who led the NFL with 18.2 yards per catch in 2021, went over 1,100 combined receiving and rushing yards this year.
Purdy was impressed by a Green Bay secondary that provided two interceptions – Alexander’s, which set up a touchdown, and Darnell Savage’s, which he returned for a touchdown.
“I think there were just some really good plays made by the DBs,” Purdy told reporters this week. “Jaire Alexander, his ball instincts on his one interception. Then No. 26 Savage coming down and making a good read on Dak and jumping a slant.
“I don’t want to say anything on their behalf, but it looks like it’s playoff football. They’re aggressive in what they’re doing and, when they see an opportunity, they’re willing to be aggressive and take it. Those are all things that I think we have to take into account, obviously, with the ball in my hands every play. They’re guys that can make plays. I have to understand that. So, it’s going to be a really good challenge.”
Alexander has typically played his best when the lights are shining the brightest, now that he's active, the spotlight will be on him as he tackles the task of covering Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel throughout the night.
Alexander was not the only player in question for Saturday's game.
Isaiah McDuffie and AJ Dillon were both questionable.
Dillon has not played since suffering a neck injury in Green Bay's 33-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on New Year's Eve.
McDuffie has carved out a role for himself, playing on mostly run downs against Dallas a week ago over De'Vondre Campbell.
McDuffie is active and likely should see more run snaps against Kyle Shanahan's complicated run game.
Dillon is inactive and will miss his third straight game with a neck injury.
Daniel Whelan is also active after it was reported the Packers had signed Pat O'Donnell to the practice squad. He'll be able to punt tonight and maintain a field goal operation that has struggled for most of the season.
One mild surprise is the inactive designation for Brenton Cox. Cox figured to be the next man up after Kingsley Enagbare left last week's game with an injury, but it appears those reps may go to Keshawn Banks, who was elevated from the practice squad earlier on Saturday.
Banks had a strong camp before getting into a scuffle that saw him get ejected from a joint practice with the New England Patriots.
“I think I’ve just been able to show that I can play at this level,” Banks said during camp. “I’m a hard worker. I’m talented. I’m reliable. My effort is, I think, I think it’s close to none as far as anybody you could pull up on tape throughout the league, not just rookies.
“I think I’m able to make plays as well and be a factor on every level of the game, whether that be defense, special teams, I think I’m a jack of all trades who can play this game at this level and be useful to a team, whoever that may be, but obviously I want it to be here.”
Green Bay Inactives:
18 WR Malik Heath
28 RB AJ DIllon
48 S Benny Sapp III
55 LB Kinglsey Enagbare
57 LB Brenton Cox
72 T Caleb Jones.
