Packers-Broncos Final Injury Report: Six Starters Are Questionable
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Three of the Green Bay Packers’ best players, Jaire Alexander, Aaron Jones and Elgton Jenkins, are among nine players who are questionable for Sunday’s game at the Denver Broncos.
“It’s like, did we play a game last week?” coach Matt LaFleur said of a final injury report that included 10 players – nine questionable and one doubtful – even though his team has played only one game over the past three-plus weeks and is coming off the bye.
Jones, who missed three of the last four games with a hamstring injury, safety Darnell Savage, who missed the second half of the game against the Raiders with a calf injury, and linebacker Quay Walker, who missed most of the Raiders game with a knee injury, practiced for a third consecutive day and are trending toward playing.
Jenkins is questionable, as well, with a knee injury. Jenkins and Alexander were the only players who did not practice.
Asked if Jenkins’ absence from practice was precautionary, LaFleur paused, then said, “I believe so.”
Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, went through stretch in the back of the Hutson Center alongside the injured players. When the players went outside, Campbell grabbed his helmet and went out with them. He is doubtful.
The final score on the injury report? 10-1. The Broncos only listed one player on their final injury report, with tight end Greg Dulcich (hamstring) out. Starting safeties Justin Simmons (hip) and Kareem Jackson (neck) are among those who were not given an injury designation.
Over the 48 hours leading up to Sunday’s kickoff at Denver, all eyes will be on Alexander’s back, which flared up this week. That he missed two games earlier in the season because of the injury is troubling.
“Yes,” LaFleur said when asked if he was concerned about Alexander’s availability.
As is typical for the final practice of the week, reporters were allowed to watch only the pre-practice stretch on Friday.
Alexander, the two-time All-Pro cornerback, went through the stretch. He wore his jersey but did not have his helmet during warm-ups, during which he caught a pass from defensive passing game coordinator and position coach Greg Williams. While the rest of the team ran toward the Hutson Center doors that lead to the practice field, Alexander stayed inside and joined Jenkins on an exercise bike.
Alexander was added to the injury report on Thursday with the same back issue that kept him out for games against New Orleans and Detroit. He returned to the lineup and played every snap at Las Vegas before the bye.
With Green Bay off to a 2-3 start and coming off back-to-back losses, Alexander’s presence against the Broncos would be critical.
While Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson has struggled a bit – he’s seventh in the NFL in passer rating and fourth in touchdown passes but the team is 17th in scoring – he’s still a veteran quarterback adept at making big plays in extended-play situations. With the Broncos coming off their mini-bye, he and coach Sean Payton should have some answers.
Jaire Alexander at Friday's practice.
Photo by Bill Huber/Packer Central
Alexander has the skills and savvy to throw a wrench into the Broncos’ plans.
He was a second-team All-Pro in 2020 and, after missing most of 2021 with a shoulder injury, did it again in 2022. The only cornerback in the NFL to allow sub-50 percent catch rates in 2019, 2020 as well as 2021, according to Sports Info Solutions, Alexander set a career high with five interceptions in 2022.
In three games this season, Alexander has zero interceptions and is tied for third on the team with linebacker Quay Walker and rookie defensive tackle Karl Brooks with only two passes defensed.
The numbers at Pro Football Focus show a premier player who hasn’t reached his typical premier standard.
Based on PFF’s judgment of coverage responsibilities, Alexander has allowed 7-of-9 passing for 119 yards and one touchdown. Of 92 corners to have played 100 coverage snaps, Alexander is allowing a league-worst 155.8 passer rating.
On the other hand, opponents have steered clear of throwing his direction. He’s been thrown at once for every 12.0 passing-game snaps. Only Cincinnati’s Chidobe Awuzie (15.1) has been targeted less frequently. For perspective, Rasul Douglas has been targeted every 7.7 snaps and Keisean Nixon has been targeted every 6.3 snaps.
What will the Packers do if Alexander is unable to play?
Seventh-round rookie Carrington Valentine exited training camp as the fourth cornerback. However, when Alexander was out for Week 4 at Detroit, Valentine started but was replaced by veteran Corey Ballentine.
It’s worth noting that the Packers have maxed out Ballentine’s practice-squad elevations. If they need him on Sunday, he’ll be added to the 53-man roster.
That would be fine but the Packers also will need a spot on the 53 for cornerback Eric Stokes. Stokes, coming off last year’s season-ending foot surgery, remains on the physically unable to perform list. The Packers opened his three-week practice window on Oct. 3, so they don’t necessarily have to add him for Sunday.
“We’ll see,” LaFleur said when asked about the plan for Stokes. “We’d love to get him back out there. He hasn’t had many practices under his belt, but I think what he has done he’s looked good. It’s just how he’s feeling come Friday, Saturday, we’ll check back in with him and just see where he’s at.”
On the other side of the ball, the Packers are hoping the return of Jones will provide a big lift for a sputtering offense. He practiced all week, lending to optimism he’ll be back in the lineup to face the worst run defense in the NFL. Of course, there was no reason to believe Jones wouldn’t play against Las Vegas at this point two weeks ago.
“He looked pretty good. He was limited, so, we’ll see how he’s feeling,” LaFleur said.
On offense, Green Bay is 25th in yards per carry. On defense, Denver is 32nd in yards allowed per carry.
“Aaron Jones is probably the best player on our team,” guard Jon Runyan said. “Anytime you’re missing the best player on your team, it’s going to be tough to play without him. Having him back there, he’s just really good. He’s going to get through the smallest holes and explode out there for 12, 15 yards. You never know – he might take it to the house. Having him out there is key.”
Packers Final Injury Report
Doubtful: LB De’Vondre Campbell (ankle).
Questionable: CB Eric Stokes (foot), CB Jaire Alexander (back), S Darnell Savage (calf), LB Quay Walker (knee), RB Aaron Jones (hamstring), S Zayne Anderson (hamstring), OT Yosh Nijman (knee), LG Elgton Jenkins (knee), DT Devonte Wyatt (knee).
Broncos Final Injury Report
Out: TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring).
