Packers CB Jaire Alexander's knee injury expected to sideline him for postseason

The Green Bay Packers apparently will have to make their entire postseason run without two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Wednesday that Alexander is undergoing surgery to repair the knee injury that has kept the 2018 first-round pick from playing for most of the past two months.

"Most likely, he's going to be done for the rest of the year," LaFleur said.

The knee injury first sidelined Alexander for a 24-14 loss to the Detroit Lions on Nov. 3. After the Packers had a week off, Alexander returned for a game at Chicago but played just 10 defensive snaps before the injury sidelined him for the rest of that 20-19 victory.

Alexander hasn't played since, as he's missed six straight games. Now he probably won't be back at all this season.

"It's the situation," LaFleur said. "It stinks that we're here, but we're here."

Alexander's absence creates a major hurdle for the Packers in their bid to make a Super Bowl run as a wild card. The Packers (11-4) are slotted as the NFC's No. 7 seed, which would force them to open the postseason at Philadelphia (13-3) and stay on the road for their entire playoff run.

The Packers still could earn the No. 6 seed if they beat the Bears (4-12) at home on Sunday while the Washington Commanders lose at Dallas.

Green Bay ranks 17th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game. Its vulnerability in that regard was apparent Sunday as the Packers allowed Sam Darnold to throw for a career-high 377 yards in a 27-25 loss at Minnesota.

The Packers remain confident they can make a deep playoff run with the defensive backs they have available.

"I have full trust in the guys in our room," safety Xavier McKinney said. "I've been saying for a long time. We have a lot