The Green Bay Packers (7-8) are about to play their biggest game of the season. On Sunday Night Football, they’ll head west to face the Minnesota Vikings (7-8). The winner will still have a chance to make the playoffs this season, while the loser will be effectively eliminated. For all intents and purposes, this game is a playoff game.
The Packers confirmed today that one of their key players will be suspended for this game.
Jaire Alexander, the Green Bay Packers’ star cornerback, has been suspended for the game against the Minnesota Vikings.
The following is a statement issued by the Packers:
The Green Bay Packers have placed CB Jaire Alexander on the reserve/suspended list for one game for conduct detrimental to the team. The move was announced on Wednesday by General Manager Brian Gutekunst.
“Suspending a player is never an easy decision, and it is not one we take lightly.” “Unfortunately, Jaire’s actions prior to the game in Carolina prompted us to take this action,” Gutekunst explained. “As a company, we expect everyone to prioritize the team. While we are sad, we had a wonderful talk with Jaire this morning and fully expect him to learn from it as we work together in the future. We look forward to welcoming him back next week since he is and will continue to be an important member of this squad.”
Despite the fact that he wasn’t captain on Sunday, Alexander walked out for the coin toss (and won). After winning the coin toss for the Packers, Alexander told the officials that he wanted “Green Bay’s defense on the field,” rather than declaring the team intended to defer.
If he hadn’t explained, the Packers would have missed out on receiving the second half kickoff. This is obviously an unusual case. The team’s decision to suspend its own player before the biggest game of the season (and against Justin Jefferson) likely elicit some responses throughout the league.
