GREEN BAY, Wis. — Between his three significant injuries and a self-inflicted suspension, Jaire Alexander had a 2023 season to forget.
First came the back injury that hampered him early in the season. Then the shoulder injury that sidelined him for much longer. Then anointing himself captain for a game in his hometown of Charlotte, N.C., the last straw of defiance for the Green Bay Packers before suspending the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history for a crucial Week 17 game against the Minnesota Vikings. Not to mention the freak ankle sprain in practice that threatened his status for the playoffs.
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Alexander spoke to reporters Wednesday for the first time since the season ended. It’s safe to say the 27-year-old two-time All-Pro who loves being the center of attention is carrying a different tune into his seventh NFL season.
“At this point,” Alexander said, “I’m trying not to make it as much about myself and just do what’s best for the team.”
Jaire Alexander explains how defensive and strength staff changes “definitely” have improved his happiness and connectedness to the team.
On the prior staff in that regard: “I wouldn’t say it was missing, but it wasn’t as easy as it is with this new staff. They’ve been great.” pic.twitter.com/u0XS1PuOIH
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) May 29, 2024
Does that mean no more crashing local television live hits to say “Pack is back” outside Lambeau Field? No more donning massive chains for interviews in the locker room? No more mounting locker room tables to playfully bark at reporters? Hopefully not, though he kept one enormous chain in his locker and not around his neck Wednesday because Alexander being Alexander is what makes him unique and entertaining as a person and player.
Before taking questions, Alexander approached the table at which he speaks to reporters in the locker room and said, “The best corner in the league has entered the chat.” So there’s your confirmation that Alexander, at least to some extent, is still his eccentric self. As long as his play on the field doesn’t take a hit because of how he acts — last year it did when his behavior left the team without its best defensive back for a game — the Packers shouldn’t have a problem with one of their most important players.
“Man, I’m super motivated,” Alexander said. “I feel like every offseason is always a fresh start to do better and get better.”
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Alexander attended the voluntary portion of this offseason that he skipped last year. He cited wanting to continue doing things that will help the team as the reason, and that decision can also be tied to staff changes and conversations Alexander had before returning to Green Bay with two of the highest-ranking members of the organization. He was asked whether the staff turnover helped improve his happiness and connectedness to the team, which was visibly lacking last season.
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“Yeah, definitely,” Alexander said. “When I met the strength staff first, they were great. There was a mutual respect. I was willing to work with them. Then I met the coaches next. Same there. It was all good vibes from the get-go. That propelled me here, as well. Talking with Matt (LaFleur), talking with Gutey (general manager Brian Gutekunst), I’ve seen them several times this offseason before I even came back to OTAs. Just having that relationship and building that, it’s been helpful.”
Was that missing from the prior staff?
“I wouldn’t say it was missing, but … it wasn’t as easy as it is with this new staff,” Alexander said. “They’ve been great.”
Coaches have sung Alexander’s praises all offseason. New defensive passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley said that not only did Alexander show up for the start of voluntary work this offseason, but he was also at Lambeau Field two or three weeks before Phase 1, working with strength coaches. New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said Alexander has been outstanding in drills and great in the classroom.
“Ja’s been outstanding,” LaFleur said. “He’s been here every day — shows up, great attitude, eager to learn, is out there competing with the guys, talking trash, which I love because I love just amping up that level of competition in a fun way. He’s never demeaning. I think he’s been a great teammate and been a great leader for us.”
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All that is fine and dandy, but Alexander must now back up all the good vibes with play worthy of $21 million per year.
He has played in only 27 of a potential 51 games over the past three regular seasons, so the first step to achieving that level of play is staying healthy. In the last two seasons in which Alexander played almost a full slate — 15 games in 2020 and 16 in 2022 — he made the All-Pro second team and posted six interceptions with 27 pass breakups. In 2021 and 2023, he played 11 combined regular-season games with one interception and eight pass breakups. He’s so good at what he does that even after playing in only four games in 2021 because of a shoulder injury suffered against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4, the Packers made Alexander the highest-paid player at his position in league history the following offseason.
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Despite missing the vast majority of last season due to injuries, Alexander reminded everyone against the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs that he’s still that guy, with an acrobatic interception while guarding wide receiver Brandin Cooks deep in Dallas territory that led to a Green Bay touchdown. The Packers need those types of plays regularly.
“I feel like I have so much more to put out there and display consistently, and I’m just ready to attack that,” Alexander said.
Read between the lines however you please regarding Alexander’s relationship with former Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry, but of Hafley specifically, Alexander said: “I like Jeff. He’s been great since Day 1. Preaches aggression, getting after everything. He’s a cool guy.”
Whether it’s the change in defensive play caller first and foremost or simply a long, hard look in the mirror, the Packers seem to be getting a different Alexander in 2024. He’s always been a supreme talent, but the buy-in and attitude that dissipated last season for Gutekunst’s first-ever draft pick have returned.
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As the Packers turn the page on defense, so does one of their cornerstones. That can only mean good things for a player whose often grandiose expectations might actually match what’s realistic for his team this season.
“He’s leading that group the right way,” Ansley said. “He’s breaking down the groups. A lot of energy every morning. He’s been the same guy, so he’s been a joy to work with that way. We’re proud of that. We don’t take that for granted, and we expect a lot out of him because he’s got a lot to give.”
(Photo: Mark Hoffman / USA Today)