Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander underwent surgery on his injured right knee and will miss the rest of the season, head coach Matt LaFleur announced on Wednesday. The Packers still have their Week 18 regular season finale versus the Chicago Bears and will be in the playoffs as the NFC’s No. 7 seed.
Alexander had arthroscopic surgery performed on Tuesday to alleviate pain and swelling, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. The hope is that he can return if the Packers advance to the Super Bowl.
The seven-year veteran has been out since Week 11 with a torn PCL in his right knee.
He originally suffered the injury in Week 8’s 30-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Alexander didn’t play the next week in a 24-14 loss to the Detroit Lions. After a bye week, he tried to play against the Chicago Bears, but could go for only 10 snaps.
Alexander hoped to avoid surgery, telling reporters he didn’t believe the PCL tear was a season-ending injury. But the knee hasn’t recovered after weeks of rest and non-contact practice.
If Alexander’s season is done, he finished with 16 total tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery.
Alexander has two years remaining on the four-year, $84 million contract he signed before the 2022 season. However, he’s missed 27 games during the past four seasons due to injury. A shoulder injury cost him 13 games in 2021, and he missed one game in 2022 with a groin injury. Last season, he was sidelined for three games because of a back injury.
Because of that, the Packers may decide to move on and save $17.5 million on their cap by cutting him after June 1, according to Spotrac.
