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Rob Demovsky
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Two straight injury-filled seasons finally spelled the tip for cornerback Jaire Alexander with the Packers, even when it took some time to achieve that time.
The Packers knowledgeable Alexander on Monday that he can be launched, a supply advised ESPN, ending an offseason-long saga during which the 2 sides tried to discover a center floor.
It got here someday earlier than Alexander had deliberate to report for the group’s necessary minicamp after skipping the entire in-person, voluntary exercises this offseason.
Alexander appeared in simply seven regular-season video games every of the previous two seasons and didn’t play after Nov. 17 final yr — regardless of practising on a semi-regular foundation. He went on injured reserve the ultimate week of the season and underwent knee surgical procedure on what he stated was a torn PCL. Nonetheless, he completed second on the group in cross breakups (seven) and tied for second in interceptions (two).
That got here a yr after shoulder and knee accidents plus a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the group restricted him to seven video games.
The 2018 first-round decide had two years remaining on the four-year, $84 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback within the NFL on the time. The Packers will decide up greater than $17 million in salary-cap area for this season.
Alexander, an All-Professional in 2020 and 2022, had performed in simply 34 of a doable 68 video games because the begin of the 2021 season — a yr during which he appeared in solely 4 regular-season video games due to a shoulder damage.
Shortly after the 2024 season, sources privately expressed that the group now not needed to play the weekly sport of whether or not or not Alexander can be wholesome sufficient to play or can be keen to play at lower than 100%.
“I do know it has been actually, actually irritating for not solely him as a participant, however us as a membership,” Packers common supervisor Brian Gutekunst stated shortly after final season. “When you have got a participant who’s executed what he is executed for us prior to now, after which not having the ability to get him out on the sphere constantly, that is powerful. You realize it is powerful on the participant, powerful on the group.”
Shortly after these feedback, Gutekunst stated he can be open to buying and selling Alexander.
“We invested loads in Jaire and wish to make certain, if he is not gonna be on our soccer group serving to us win video games, that we get one thing again for that funding,” Gutekunst stated in late March. “So we’ll see the place it goes, however once more, working with him weekly and making an attempt to determine what’s greatest for each Jaire and the Packers.”
After the draft got here and went and not using a commerce, the Packers thought-about conserving Alexander, however provided that he can be keen to remodel his contract. The Packers went as far as to supply Alexander a revised deal in current days, a supply advised ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, however the two sides couldn’t attain an settlement.
Alexander was scheduled to make $17.5 million this season, however none of that was assured.
He appeared to know the tip was coming instantly after the season, when on locker cleanout day he declined to talk with reporters, saying he had “nothing good to say” and that he didn’t know if he can be again in 2025.
In seven seasons, together with playoffs, Alexander recorded 15 interceptions.
