Packers-Vikings Inactives: Jaire Alexander and Luke Musgrave Are Active
GREEN BAY, Wis. – When the Green Bay Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field last year, Jaire Alexander’s dominant performance over Justin Jefferson was a key story.
In Sunday’s Week 8 rematch, only one of those players will be on the field.
Alexander, who missed three of the last four games with a back injury and was questionable on the final injury report, is active and will be in the starting lineup. Jefferson, the Vikings’ All-Pro receiver, is on injured reserve and will miss his third consecutive game.
Other than the players who are on injured reserve, the Packers will have all their top players available. That includes the four starters who were questionable:
Tight end Luke Musgrave: The impressive rookie missed the end of last week’s game after landing awkwardly on his left ankle. He didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday but did on Friday.
“Yeah, I do,” coach Matt LaFleur said of Musgrave being able to contribute on limited practice reps. “I think he’s super-mature for a rookie and, I’ll tell you what, he’s one tough sucker now. I don’t think too many guys would’ve been able to come back that quickly from what happened to him.
“It just shows his toughness, his grit, his desire to want to be out there to help the team win. He’s a guy we’re going to keep trying to get the ball to. We’ve got to find ways to do that, but to have him – if he’s available on Sunday – would be a big plus for us.
Luke Musgrave is active for the Packers against the Vikings.
Photo by Wm. Glasheen/USA Today Sports Images
Center Josh Myers: Myers missed four snaps against Denver with an ankle injury and didn’t practice on Wednesday. He returned for Thursday and Friday, though.
“Josh Myers is playing the best he’s played in his career,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. Fans didn’t agree with that assessment.
Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell: The 2021 All-Pro missed the last three games with an ankle injury sustained in Week 3 against New Orleans. While Isaiah McDuffie has played well in Campbell’s absence, it’s worth noting that the Packers won four in a row when Campbell returned to the lineup last year and they’re 0-3 without him this year.
“He’s a great leader for us,” LaFleur said. “He’s played a lot of football. I think anytime you have an experienced player that can play at a high level I think that always gives you a boost.”
Cornerback Jaire Alexander: The two-time All-Pro injured his back in a collision with practice-squad quarterback Alex McGough.
“It’s just something that has to be managed throughout the week,” Alexander said. “Playing in that Raiders game, that (expletive) hurt. But, you know, I was going against Tae [Davante Adams]. It didn’t matter. We was expected to win that game last week, so they need me out there.”
Alexander will have a key role against veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who entered the week ranked second in passing yards and first in passing touchdowns, and explosive rookie receiver Jordan Addison.
Green Bay’s five inactives are all backups: receiver Malik Heath, new cornerback Robert Rochell, safety Zayne Anderson, outside linebacker Brenton Cox and offensive tackle Caleb Jones.
The Vikings will be without left guard Ezra Cleveland and explosive kickoff returner Kene Nwangwu.
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