GREEN BAY — There have been plenty of games the Green Bay Packers have played without cornerback Jaire Alexander and running back Aaron Jones — two pillars of their roster — this season, but few where their absence will be this significant.
Alexander is inactive for Sunday night’s game against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Jones was ruled out on Friday, so his inactivity is less surprising. Neither is ideal for a team hoping to pull off an upset at home against one of the NFL’s best teams.
Without Alexander, who misses his fourth straight game with a shoulder injury, Mahomes will throw against rookie seventh-round pick Carrington Valentine and cornerback Corey Ballentine. Both have played well over the past month, but tonight will be a different test.
The Packers will have safety Darnell Savage, who was activated off injured reserve on Saturday. Savage has missed the past five games due to a calf injury. They will have to decide who will start alongside the veteran. Rudy Ford is active after becoming questionable with a bicep and groin injury, but veteran Jonathan Owens played well in Ford’s place, including a fumble returned for a touchdown last week in Detroit.
Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell is active after missing last week’s game with a neck injury. He and fellow linebacker Quay Walker haven’t spent much time together this season due to injuries, but the duo has been dynamic when paired at the second level of the Packers’ defense. Campbell’s availability should help against the Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco.
It’s Alexander the Packers need most in this game. Without him, the Packers will be forced to cover against Mahomes without their top cornerback. Alexander has not played since injuring his shoulder while diving to deflect a pass that was deflected as an interception against the Los Angeles Rams.
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Jones will miss his fifth game of the season, though injuries have hampered him since Week 1. The Packers will have rookie receivers Jayden Reed (chest) and Dontaevion Weeks, who are listed as questionable. AJ Dillon will handle the bulk of the carries, but the Packers also elevated cornerback James Robinson from the practice squad to the active roster for game day.
Along with Alexander and Jones, outside linebacker Brenton Cox Jr., offensive tackle Caleb Jones, tight end Josiah Deguara and receiver Samori Torre are also inactive.
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