Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander doesn’t believe that Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson can repeat his outstanding performance from the season opener.
The Pro Bowl wideout racked up nine receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-7 victory over the Packers to start the 2022 campaign.
“He’s a really good receiver,” Alexander said, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. “But at the end of the day, I’m a really good corner. We’ve got really good corners, we’ve got really good linebackers, D-line, whatever it is.
“You don’t want to put too much focus on that one person because it’s like, the first game, that was a fluke.”
While Alexander doesn’t believe that Jefferson can replicate Week 1 totals, he considers the third-year wideout among his top three at the position.
“Davante Adams No. 1, and I think (Miami’s Jaylen) Waddle might’ve snuck in there as of this past weekend,” Alexander said. “I think he’s a really good receiver.”
Jefferson has recorded one of the most prolific receiving campaigns in NFL history. He’s just 209 yards away from breaking Calvin Johnson’s single-season receiving yards record, and he’s hauled in a league-leading 123 receptions, 1,756 yards, and eight touchdowns while sporting a 117.1 yards-per-game average going into Sunday’s matchup.
The Packers have made some adjustments to their defense since that first meeting. Alexander has been allowed to follow a specific wideout for entire games, while fellow corner Rasul Douglas was shifted from slot to outside cornerback.
Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur understands that Jefferson will “get his touches.” He said that providing different looks and awareness of where the dynamic wide receiver lines up are keys to trying to limit Jefferson’s impact.
Meanwhile, the Packers (7-8) must win Sunday against their rivals if they hope to keep their playoff hopes alive. A loss and win by either the Detroit Lions or Washington Commanders would eliminate Green Bay from postseason contention.
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