Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander has been suspended one game by the team following a bizarre incident Sunday, when he made himself a captain and nearly cost Green Bay a chance to receive the ball at the start of either half with his coin toss request before a win over the Panthers.
The Packers elaborated on Alexander’s suspension in a statement Wednesday, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.”
“The decision to suspend a player is never easy and not one we take lightly,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said in a statement. “Unfortunately, Jaire’s actions prior to the game in Carolina led us to take this step. As an organization, we have an expectation that everyone puts the team first.
“While we are disappointed, we had a good conversation with Jaire this morning and fully expect him to learn from this as we move forward together. We look forward to welcoming him back next week as he is a valued member of this team and will continue to be in the future.”
Alexander, who hadn’t been in the lineup for the past six games while recovering from a shoulder injury, joined Packers captains Aaron Jones, Eric Wilson and Quay Walker on the field at Bank of America Stadium — in Charlotte, his hometown — without head coach Matt LaFleur’s knowledge.
When he correctly called the coin flip, Alexander said they wanted the defense on the field, which was different than outright deferring.
LaFleur labeled it a “big mistake” following the Packers’ 33-30 victory over Carolina, though Alexander seemed to downplay the scene in a postgame interview with reporters.
“I’m like, I mean it’s pretty simple what I said, like I want the defense to be out there,” Alexander told reporters following the game, according to The Athletic. “They like, ‘You mean defer?’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I guess.’”
So with the Packers clinging to a 26 percent chance at making the postseason, and currently sitting No. 9 in the NFC, they’ll have to operate without the Pro Bowl cornerback Sunday against the Vikings — which feature wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, with the latter questionable, in their offense.
