Packers-Saints Final Injury Report: Status of Jaire Alexander, Three Saints Stars

Only two players did not practice for the Green Bay Packers on Saturday. Here are the final injury reports for the Packers and New Orleans Saints, including the status of Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave.

The scene inside the Don Hutson on Saturday before Packers-Saints. / Bill Huber/Packers On SI

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Could this be the week that Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander returns to the lineup?

After being full participation on Thursday and Friday, Alexander was full participation again on Saturday and is questionable on the final injury report of the week for Monday night’s game against the New Orleans Saints. 

Safety Javon Bullard and linebacker Quay Walker didn’t practice this week and are out.

Safety Evan Williams (quad) was added to the injury report as limited participation and is questionable. 

For the Saints, quarterback Derek Carr (hand), running back Alvin Kamara (calf) and receiver Chris Olave (head) are out. Carr and Kamara didn’t practice this week and Olave returned to practice this week after missing the last five games following a concussion but won’t be rushed back into the lineup.

“Derek just hasn’t progressed enough this week,” interim Saints coach Darren Rizzi said.

Rookie Spencer Rattler will start at quarterback.

“We’ve got to get him some confidence and get him rolling,” Rizzi said. 

Former Packers running back Jamaal Williams will be part of a “committee” approach to replace Kamara.

For Alexander, it was a perfect 3-for-3 practice week, which is a noteworthy step in his comeback from a torn PCL. 

Before the Thursday night game at Detroit, Alexander was limited participation the first two days but did not practice on Tuesday and was listed as out. Before last week’s game at Seattle, Alexander was full participation the first two days but did not practice on Friday and was listed as out.

After practice, coach Matt LaFleur said he’d look at the tape before making a decision. Did Alexander have a real chance to play?

“Potentially,” he said. “We’ll take a look at the tape, talk as a staff and then make a decision.”

Alexander declined to talk to reporters.

Tight end Luke Musgrave practiced again, another step toward playing for the first time since Week 4 following ankle surgery.

“I think our timeline was set aggressively but do-ably,” Musgrave said on Friday, “and the thought was to be back for the latter few games of the season.”

The team has until 3 p.m. Monday to add him to the roster for him to be available for the  game. There is a vacant roster spot.

“We’ll take a look at the tape, talk as a staff and then make a decision,” LaFleur said.

Only two players did not practice on Saturday, and they were the same two as on Thursday and Friday: Bullard and Walker. Both are dealing with ankle injuries, with Bullard inactive last week and Walker sustaining his injury during the second quarter.

Alexander suffered a torn PCL on the final defensive snap at Jacksonville on Oct. 27. Even though he missed five of the last six games, including each of the last four, and has played only 40.2 percent of the defensive snaps, he is tied for second on the team with two interceptions and is second outright with seven passes defensed.

While Green Bay’s pass defense was dissected by Detroit quarterback Jared Goff, it delivered a strong performance in last week’s victory at Seattle. Carrington Valentine picked off Geno Smith and Edgerrin Cooper intercepted backup Sam Howell.

“Definitely when you lose someone like that, it hurts, but we always have that next-man-up mentality,” Valentine said. “We all prepare like we’re going to start, no matter who’s out there.”

Do the Packers need Alexander against the Saints?

Perhaps not.

The Saints will start Rattler at quarterback. Their best receiver, Olave, missed the last five games with a concussion. Former Packers receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who has caught only 14 passes but is fourth on the team with 352 receiving yards and first with four touchdowns and a 25.1-yard average, is dealing with a chest injury and illness. He did not practice this week and is questionable.

“Hopefully, we get him back on schedule tomorrow,” Rizzi said.

However, Alexander has played only 10 defensive snaps in about two months, so getting him at least some work against the Saints could make him better prepared for next week’s showdown at the Minnesota Vikings.

How long could it take a veteran like Alexander to return to form?

“I think it all comes back down to the preparation,” LaFleur said. “I don’t think you just magically return to form without competing and putting in the work in practice. But I do believe that if you do it in practice, then it’s going to transfer to the game.”

The ability to practice, even in limited capacity, the last few weeks is why the team opted to keep him on the roster rather than place him on injured reserve. Had Alexander landed on injured reserve, he would have been unable to play or practice for four weeks.

At linebacker, Eric Wilson replaced Walker at middle linebacker last week and took over the every-down, green-dot communication role. He presumably will have those duties against the Saints.

“I think he performed really well,” defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said on Friday. “He did it in Indy, he did it (against) Houston, he did it at Jacksonville. At that position, there’s a lot that goes into it. One, he’s got to get the call from me, he’s got to give that to everybody. He’s got to make checks up front, he’s got to make checks behind him, he’s got to calm everything down, he’s got to get certain guys lined up.

“Eric’s a really smart player. When you’ve got to get that green dot halfway through a game, that’s not easy. And when you have to tell everybody else what they’re doing and then go out and execute your job, I know that might not seem hard, but that’s not easy. He’s a veteran guy who brings a calmness and I think he’s had success doing that.”

Green Bay Packers Final Injury Report

Out: S Javon Bullard (ankle), LB Quay Walker (ankle).

Quetsionable: CB Jaire Alexander (knee), CB Corey Ballentine (knee), Luke Musgrave (ankle; designated to return from IR), S Evan Williams (quad).

New Orleans Saints Final Injury Report

Out: QB Derek Carr (left hand), RB Alvin Kamara (groin), WR Bub Means (ankle), WR Chris Olave (head).

Questionable: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest/illness),

Latest Green Bay Packers News 

The expectation is the #Saints will start Spencer Rattler against the #Packers on Monday night.

Here's Matt LaFleur's history against rookie quarterbacks. ⬇️https://t.co/NI1uEg4dP5

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) December 21, 2024

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