Wednesday was deadline day for the Green Bay Packers to either activate Jaire Alexander or lose him for the rest of the year. It was the first question head coach Matt LaFleur was asked, and he confirmed that the superstar cornerback would indeed be on the active roster. Alexander’s return opens up all sorts of possibilities for defensive coordinator Joe Barry.
Before the hype train starts pumping up to 100 miles per hour: Just because the Packers put Alexander on the active roster does not mean he will play on Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings. But it hints at what Green Bay’s coaches and training staff are thinking. Activating Alexander is a clear indicator that they expect him back at some point soon. Barry should be grinning ear to ear.
In Alexander’s absence, cornerback has not been a weak spot for the Packers. That’s nothing short of stunning, given what things looked like in Week 1.
Green Bay tried a quick fix to their lack of cornerback depth by bringing back Kevin King in the offseason. He’s been in and out of the lineup all season long. He has been mostly average when he’s been on the field, but it’s somewhat of an upgrade from last year’s version of King. He’s made fewer blunders, but there have been fewer opportunities.
The Packers drafted Eric Stokes in the first round, and it’s unlikely that even they saw him progressing as quickly as he has. Stokes plays with a wealth of confidence. His blossoming skillset looks like a star cornerback with many years ahead of him.
Then there’s Rasul Douglas.
We all know the story by now. Douglas has been an absolute savior for this cornerback group. When Alexander went down against the Pittsburgh Steelers back in Week 4, the assumption was that the Packers would be screwed at cornerback. Even Green Bay fans echoed those thoughts. Instead, the unlikely pairing of Stokes and Douglas created a solid one-two punch. Not only have they stayed afloat without Alexander, but they’ve also excelled. So what does Barry do now?
It’s a great spot to be in. Whenever Green Bay clears Alexander for game action, he will slot back into his regular No. 1 spot. But it could look a little different with the wealth of options at Barry’s disposal.
Douglas is at his best and most comfortable playing on the outside. In dime and nickel packages, Douglas, Stokes, and Alexander will presumably all be on the field simultaneously. Alexander seems to be comfortable anywhere. He even played 174 snaps as a slot corner in his rookie season. That number evaporated to only 33 snaps at the slot spot last year — not because Alexander was struggling, but because he’s so damn good on the outside as a premier, lockdown cornerback. Could he go back to that role and shadow fellow No. 1 wideouts while pinballing around the field?
Taking Douglas off the field shouldn’t be in consideration. He’s been that good. It’s not a flash-in-the-pan scenario; he’s been consistent as can be. Likewise, Stokes has been highly reliable, and there have been no worries about him matching up across from a variety of names at wide receiver. Putting Alexander in the slot should be discussed if it’s something he’s open to. Green Bay shouldn’t press to put their superstar cornerback in a spot Alexander doesn’t want to be in. If he’s down for the cause, looking ahead at potential playoff matchups makes it seem sensible to put Alexander in the slot.
Cooper Kupp has been video-game great this year. He’s almost a lock to get at least 100 yards every week. Kupp is at his best working out of the slot, and a matchup with Alexander in a playoff showdown would be appointment television.
Kupp’s not the only stud wideout on a playoff-bound team in the NFC who does most of his dirty work out of the slot. CeeDee Lamb is part of a three-headed monster at wideout for the Dallas Cowboys. Out of him, Amari Cooper, and Michael Gallup, it’s Lamb who has the most upside. He provides the most consistent threat anywhere on the field out of the trio. Like Kupp, Lamb thrives out of the slot and is often a matchup nightmare for the opposition. Knowing that, what sounds better for the Packers to deflate those odds?
In one scenario, Barry could have Alexander return to his outside position with Stokes on the other side of the field. Chandon Sullivan could keep rolling along in the slot, and Douglas would be in the game in those dime and nickel packages. Or Green Bay could go with Alexander in the slot, right across from Lamb, Kupp, or even Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers. Green Bay could put the clamps down on the outside by rolling with Stokes and Douglas. It’s pretty evident which of those two options sounds more daunting for an offense to deal with.
Jaire Alexander’s activation to the 53-man roster is huge news for the Packers. It does not mean there will be instant sightings of No. 23 in uniform, but it does leave the door wide open for the postseason. Joe Barry will have his hands full trying to rearrange the pieces to go into the right spots at cornerback, but it’s a situation that any defensive coordinator would sign up for.
