Alexander has been limited to seven games this season due to a knee injury. The two-time Pro Bowler has two interceptions, and per Pro Football Reference, he has allowed 17 receptions on 30 targets (56.7 percent) for 231 yards and three touchdowns.
He last played on Nov. 17 against the Bears.
Green Bay’s secondary has held up well without Alexander. Despite ranking 17th in passing yards allowed (3,517) entering Week 18, the Packers have 16 interceptions, tied for the third-most in the league.
Eric Stokes and Carrington Valentine have been the team’s primary outside cornerbacks during the stretch run, and safety Xavier McKinney leads the team with seven interceptions.
The Packers need their secondary to play well to make a deep playoff run. While it’s performed admirably without Alexander during the regular season, that might be more difficult in the postseason.
Entering Week 18, the Packers (11-5) are the seventh seed in the NFC, putting them in line to play the Eagles (13-3). Green Bay could also play the Rams (10-6) if it moves past the Commanders (11-5) for the NFC’s No. 6 seed.
Philadelphia is led by running back Saquon Barkley, but wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith give the team two outstanding weapons on the perimeter. Quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion) will miss his second consecutive game in Week 18, making his health worth monitoring heading into the playoffs.
The Packers would fare much better going against backup Kenny Pickett, but the two weeks off could give Hurts enough time to return for the playoffs.
The Rams might be a bigger challenge for Green Bay’s secondary. Matthew Stafford is still one of the league’s best quarterbacks, and wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp could be just as difficult a matchup as the Eagles wideouts.
Green Bay still has the talent to emerge as the NFC’s Super Bowl representative without Alexander, who’s been limited to 14 regular-season games the past two seasons, but its task would certainly be easier with him healthy.
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