Packers-Chargers Thursday Injury Report: Jaire Alexander vs. Keenan Allen?

Inactive last week, Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander returned to practice on Thursday with a big matchup looming against the Los Angeles Chargers.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – With a matchup against NFL receptions leader Keenan Allen of the Los Angeles Chargers looming on Sunday, All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander returned to practice for the Green Bay Packers on Thursday.

Alexander, who earlier this season missed three of four games with a back issue, was inactive for Sunday’s loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers with a shoulder injury and did not practice on Wednesday.

Coach Matt LaFleur said Alexander went through all the individual drills and took part in some 11-on-11 work, as well.

With a lengthy injury report and a game coming up at the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, LaFleur is keeping the team out of pads this week. So, whether Alexander can get through his shoulder problems on a full-contact Sunday is unknown, but his return to the practice field was a noteworthy development.

The Packers certainly could use him given the star power of the opponent.

Quarterback Justin Herbert, who is coming off a four-touchdown performance in a shootout loss at the Detroit Lions, ranks seventh in the NFL in passer rating, eighth in passing yards and fifth in passing touchdowns.

The record-setting Allen is tied for first with 73 receptions. In his one and only trip to Lambeau Field in 2015, Allen caught 14 passes for 157 yards. That is among his NFL-record number of games with at least 12, 13 or 14 catches.

In NFL history, only Antonio Brown (126 games) reached 800 career receptions faster than Allen (127). He was the fastest to 500 and 600 catches. Since 2017, he ranks first in the league in third-down receptions, third-down receiving yards and third-down catches that produced a first down.

Allen did not practice on Wednesday due to a shoulder injury but was back on the field on Thursday as limited participation.

“He’s about as tough as it gets,” Herbert told reporters this week. “The team leader, the player, the teammate, he does everything for us. To handle everything that has been thrown his way and to continue to battle and to continue to fight, to keep teaching these young receivers and being the leader that he is on and off the field, we’re so lucky to have [him].

“And I’m so lucky to be able to throw it to him, because he’s one of the best ever do it. Just being able to see him attack day in and day out, the way he goes about practice, he’s a true professional.”

Certainly, the Packers would feel better about their chances of slowing Herbert and Allen with Alexander on the field.

Only one player did not practice. Safety Rudy Ford, who returned last week from a calf injury, missed a second consecutive day with an injured biceps. With Darnell Savage still on injured reserve, rookie Anthony Johnson could be in line for his second career start.

Linebacker Quay Walker, who missed the last two games with a groin injury, practiced for a second consecutive day. He was limited participation on Wednesday.

“We need somebody that’s going to come out there and cause some turnover opportunities for us, and he’s shown that he’s capable of doing that,” LaFleur said. “So, hopefully, his physicality, his mindset that he brings, he does a great job of punching at the football. We just need more of that I would say defensively and on all of our coverage units.”

The starting tandem of Walker and De’Vondre Campbell has been on the field together for only one of the last six games.

Walker leads the team in tackles, Ford is second, fill-in starting linebacker Isaiah McDuffie is third and Campbell is fourth.

“The progress has been pretty steady all the way through,” linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti said about McDuffie. “It went from rookie doing rookie things to ‘Hey, we like this guy’s play style,’ (to) ‘Hey, we can rely on him for whatever role we have’ (to) ‘Hey, he’s a guy that can finish a game,’ (to) ‘Oh, shoot, he’s a guy that can start a game, he can plug-and-play here and there.’ Those are the progressions that you go through as a player and as a coach and Isaiah’s kind of hit a lot of those markers.”

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For the Chargers, tight end Gerald Everett was the only player who did not practice. He is fourth on the team with 21 receptions.

Packers Thursday Injury Report

Did not participate: S Rudy Ford (bicep).

Limited: LB Quay Walker (groin), WR Christian Watson (shoulder), CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder), running back Aaron Jones (hamstring), LG Elgton Jenkins (knee), DT Kenny Clark (shoulder).

Full: OT Yosh Nijman (back), RG Jon Runyan (neck).

Chargers Thursday Injury Report

Did not participate: TE Gerald Everett (back).

Limited: WR Keenan Allen (shoulder), S T.J. Woods (illness), DL Sebastian Joseph-Day (knee), TE Donald Parham (hip).

Full: OLB Joey Bosa (hand), S Alohi Gilman (elbow), T Rashawn Slater (knee).