Green Bay Packers: 5 Toughest matchups for Jaire Alexander in 2019
By Joe Kipp
Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander is a rising star on defense. Here are the five toughest receiver matchups he’ll face in 2019.
If the Green Bay Packers defense wants to improve in 2019, they’ll need a big jump in Year 2 from cornerback Jaire Alexander. Everyone knows the type of impact a lockdown corner can provide for any defense, and Alexander has shown he has what it takes to take on that role. Taking away an opposing team’s No. 1 receiver hinders an offense more than anything.
Although his rookie campaign was plagued by inconsistency — not to mention a groin injury that forced him to miss three games — Alexander was easily one of Green Bay’s best defensive players in 2018. He flashed Pro Bowl potential and was named to the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie Team by season’s end, an excellent platform to build on going into his second season.
Alexander’s best performance came in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Rams, where he recorded five pass breakups and seven solo tackles against receivers Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods. Alexander finished his rookie season with 66 total tackles, 11 pass breakups and one interception, and would have had another interception against the Vikings in Week 2 had a faux roughing the passer penalty against Clay Matthews not been called.
But with flashes of brilliance came plenty of growing pains. Alexander struggled against some of the top-flight receivers around the league like Julio Jones and Adam Thielen — but then again who wouldn’t? Nevertheless, he’ll be expected to have a much larger impact in his sophomore season.
The Packers face a bevy of talented receivers in 2019. Alexander will have a chance to redeem himself twice against Thielen and the Vikings, along with a few other rematches from last season. Without further ado, here are the five toughest receivers Alexander and the Packers will face in 2019.