They may not be at 100% — or even close.
But Green Bay cornerback Jaire Alexander and wideout Christian Watson are both active for the Packers’ wild card matchup at Dallas today at 3:30 p.m. The availability of both standouts means the Packers will have 20 of their 22 preferred starters from Week 1 available today.
Alexander turned an ankle in practice Wednesday, then did not practice Thursday or Friday. That was simply the latest chapter in what’s largely been a lost year for Alexander, the NFL’s highest paid cornerback.
Alexander has played in just seven games this season due to shoulder and back injuries, as well as a one game suspension for insubordination.
Even when he did play, Alexander didn’t perform like the Pro Bowl player he once was. His tackling has been subpar, he doesn’t have an interception and he’s posted just five pass breakups.
Alexander can make everyone forget his disappointing regular season, though, with a big performance today.
Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb has been the best wideout in football this year, with 135 receptions, 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. In Lamb’s last two games alone, he caught 26 passes for 325 yards and three scores.
If Alexander follows Lamb — and can keep him from going wild — the Packers’ defense has a chance to succeed.
“Of course, any week you want a Jaire Alexander playing for you, especially this week when you’re playing against a guy like No. 4 (Dak Prescott) and 88 (CeeDee Lamb) and Brandin Cooks and the whole crew,” Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry said.
Watson, who has battled hamstring issues during his first two seasons, suffered another hamstring injury against Kansas City on Dec. 3 and hasn’t played since.
Watson, who has 28 receptions and five touchdowns this season, has missed eight games in 2023. The Packers haven't missed a beat, though, with the emergence of Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Bo Melton, but Watson brings a speed element the others can't match.
“I don’t think I’m going to be 100 percent either way to be honest,” Watson said this week. “Coming back from hamstrings, even when I was coming back earlier in the season, I think it was more around 90, 95 percent,. That’s just how it is.
“You kinda gotta work through a couple kinks after getting back with the soft tissue stuff, but I’ve got to be able to play at the level that I know is gonna benefit the team and not put us in a worse spot. So I’m not thinking about it as I’ve got to be 100 percent, but I’ve got to be able to make a positive impact to go.”
Green Bay’s inactives include wide receiver Malik Heath, running back AJ Dillon. Cornerback David Long, safety Benny Sapp, linebacker Brenton Cox and offensive tackle Caleb Jones.
