Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Alexander served a one-game suspension after appointing himself captain for the Packers\u2019 Christmas Eve victory<\/a><\/span> over the Carolina Panthers in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble runs against Green Bay Packers safety Anthony Johnson Jr. (36) and cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo\/Jacob Kupferman)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. catches a pass as Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander and safety Jonathan Owens look on during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo\/Rusty Jones)
Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble runs against Green Bay Packers safety Anthony Johnson Jr. (36) and cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo\/Jacob Kupferman)
Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble runs against Green Bay Packers safety Anthony Johnson Jr. (36) and cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo\/Jacob Kupferman)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. catches a pass as Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander and safety Jonathan Owens look on during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo\/Rusty Jones)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. catches a pass as Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander and safety Jonathan Owens look on during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo\/Rusty Jones)
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) \u2014 Jaire Alexander said Wednesday he\u2019s \u201cvery grateful\u201d to be part of the Green Bay Packers and he won\u2019t repeat the conduct that led the team to suspend him<\/a><\/span> for one game.
The 26-year-old cornerback also said he wants to remain with the Packers beyond this season. Alexander was hopeful the conversations he had with team officials in the wake of the suspension should improve that relationship.
\u201cThere\u2019s definitely things that I could have improved upon during that week to help with communication,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cMoving forward, that won\u2019t happen again.\u201d
Alexander has been dealing with a shoulder injury for the last two months but was a full participant in Wednesday\u2019s practice. Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur wouldn\u2019t go into details about what role Alexander might have Sunday as the Packers (8-8) seek to clinch<\/a><\/span> a playoff berth by beating the Chicago Bears (7-9).
\u201cI\u2019m not going to get into too many of the specifics \u2014 you guys will find out later in the week \u2014 but I will say that it was great to have him back,\u201d LaFleur said. \u201cWe had a great conversation on Monday, and I think he\u2019s ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
When the Packers won the coin toss, Alexander said the defense wanted to be on the field first rather than saying the Packers would defer the option to the second half. The Packers got a break when referee Alex Kemp asked Alexander to clarify. LaFleur had told the officiating crew beforehand what he wanted to do if the Packers won the toss.
Alexander acknowledged he wasn\u2019t expecting a punishment of this magnitude.
\u201cYeah, I was surprised by the suspension,\u201d he said. \u201cI thought maybe I\u2019d get fined.\u201d
The suspension prevented Alexander from getting to match up with Pro Bowl receiver Justin Jefferson on Sunday at Minnesota, though Green Bay\u2019s defense thrived without him in a 33-10 blowout<\/a><\/span> of the Vikings.
\u201cInitially I was very upset, but when my guys went out there and did what they did, I can\u2019t be too mad,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cI was pretty happy.\u201d
Alexander said he didn\u2019t believe there would be too many obvious changes in the way he goes about his business from now on, but added that \u201cmy interviews might be a little more serious.\u201d The guy who wore a comically oversized hat to one postgame news conference last year and had sunglasses on while discussing the coin-toss incident after the Carolina game didn\u2019t have any accessories with him for Wednesday\u2019s session with reporters.
Alexander is one of the Packers\u2019 best overall players when healthy. He received a four-year, $84 million contract extension<\/a><\/span> with a $30 million signing bonus in May 2022.
But he has played in just six of the Packers\u2019 16 games this season.
He missed three games during the first two months of the season with a back injury. He later missed six games with a shoulder problem before returning for the Carolina game. Then he served the one-game suspension.
Alexander was asked Wednesday if the shoulder issue was impacting how physically he can play when he\u2019s on the field.
\u201cI can try to,\u201d he replied. \u201cIt\u2019s a mindset. Some plays are better than others.\u201d
Alexander expressed optimism that his shoulder would be healthy enough for him to play against the Bears. He also was hopeful the suspension led to conversations that should aid his dealings with LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst.
\u201cIt was good for both parties to hear both sides,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cWe got down to the nitty-gritty.\u201d
Alexander conceded he could do a better job of communicating with team officials.
\u201cIt\u2019s easy to talk to my guys, but talking to anybody else would be a little bit of a challenge,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cI\u2019ve got to be better at that.\u201d
NOTES: WRs Christian Watson (hamstring), Dontayvion Wicks (chest) and Jayden Reed (chest) were all limited participants in Wednesday\u2019s practice. Watson has missed four straight games. Wicks didn\u2019t play against the Vikings, and Reed left the Vikings game early after scoring two touchdowns. \u2026 LB Isaiah McDuffie (concussion\/neck), OLB Preston Smith (ankle), RB AJ Dillon (thumb), S Rudy Ford (hamstring) and LG Elgton Jenkins (knee\/ankle) didn\u2019t practice.
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Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n