The Green Bay Packers are suspending star cornerback Jaire Alexander for the Week 17 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings due to what they are calling conduct detrimental to the team. Alexander went to the coin toss in the team’s Week 16 game against the Panthers and made a call despite not being named a captain for the game, then said the team wanted to “play defense” when he won. If the referee didn’t allow him to clarify that decision, the Panthers would’ve received the kickoff to start both halves. Luckily for Alexander, the referee did allow him to adjust that decision.
The Packers have suspended CB Jaire Alexander for one game after he crashed the pregame coin toss with team captains before last weekend’s game against Carolina.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) December 27, 2023
Here’s Alexander’s side of the story for why he did what he did.
So, the Green Bay #Packers have suspended star CB Jaire Alexander one game for conduct detrimental to the team for crashing the coin toss prior to the game against the Panthers. After the game, Alexander said he did it because he’s from Charlotte. pic.twitter.com/HttTXHgQ1K
— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) December 27, 2023
It hasn’t been a banner season for the cornerback, who has largely been on the sidelines with various injuries. He’ll now be out of action due to a suspension as the Packers remain in the playoff hunt. Alexander would’ve been useful for Green Bay to cover Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson, who has routinely cooked the Packers but was shut down in last year’s return game by Alexander. Alexander hit the “griddy” after breaking up one of the game’s first passes for Jefferson, and dominated after that.
The Packers are 1.5-point underdogs in this primetime game at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total coming in at 46. Green Bay is +105 on the moneyline.