Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander knew he would face some consequences if he became captain for the game against the Carolina Panthers, but he didn’t expect to be suspended for last Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.
“Yes, I was surprised by the suspension,” Alexander said Wednesday after his first practice with the team, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. “I thought I might get a fine.
”Demovsky noted that Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Alexander’s mistake against the Panthers wasn’t the only thing that led to his one-game suspension.
However, LaFleur did not say whether the 26-year-old had previously been fined for other missteps this season.
Alexander has been limited to six games this year due to back and shoulder injuries.
He denied the suggestion that the suspension caused a rift in the relationship between him and the coaching staff.“I think it definitely improved it,” he said.
Alexander, the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL at $21 million a year, said he recognized the need for better communication between himself, the coaching staff and Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst.“Yeah, I think it’s definitely something to learn from,” Alexander said.
“There are definitely things I could have improved that week to help with communication.
This will not happen again in the future.
LaFleur did not commit to Alexander returning to the starting lineup Sunday against the Chicago Bears, a game Green Bay must win to advance to the playoffs.“I won’t go into details; you’ll find out later in the week.
But I have to say it was great to see him again,” LaFleur said of Alexander. “We had a great conversation on Monday and I think he’s ready to go.”
