Jaire Alexander Talks 2023 Suspension: Trying to 'Do What's Best' for Packers in 2024

Last season was tough for Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander, who missed nine games with back and shoulder injuries and another one due to suspension after he anointed himself as a team captain and went out for the coin toss prior to the Pack's 33-30 OT win over the Carolina Panthers on Christmas Eve.

Alexander obtained a different mindset now, though, post-suspension and heading into 2024.

"I just had to go out there and ball, show them that I was still me regardless of the adversity," Alexander told reporters regarding his post-suspension thought process, per packers.com editor Mike Spofford.

"Just going into Year 7, at this point, I'm trying not to make it as much about myself and just do what's best for the team."

The 27-year-old Alexander has fared well in Green Bay, earning Pro Bowl nods and second-team All-Pro status in 2020 and 2022.

But Alexander arguably had his worst year as a pro in 2023. Per Pro Football Reference, opposing quarterbacks completed 66.7 percent of their passes in Alexander's coverage. Quarterbacks also posted a 113.4 rating in his pass coverage. Both marks were career-worsts for Alexander. His 15.6 percent missed tackle percentage was the highest of his career as well.

Alexander came through with a massive play in the postseason, though, intercepting a Dak Prescott pass late in the first quarter of the team's 48-32 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card round. That pick led to a touchdown and a 13-0 Packers lead.

Now Alexander returns to the mix healthy and on a 2024 Packers team with great expectations after reaching the Divisional Round in the first year of the Jordan Love era. Green Bay notably added talent on defense through ex-New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney and rookies Edgerrin Cooper and Javon Bullard, both of whom should start. If Alexander returns to his old form, then the Packers' defense could be sensational, and Green Bay could be finding itself competing for a Super Bowl.