Packers place Jaire Alexander on IR, activate three players

By Friday, the plan for Jaire Alexander was known: Alexander and the team were hoping to avoid season-ending surgery on his shoulder, meaning he would have to be placed on the injured reserve list before eventually returning to the field. On Saturday, the other shoe dropped as the Packers officially placed the cornerback on injured reserve, ensuring he won’t play in at least the next three games for Green Bay.

The team also activated nose tackle Tyler Lancaster from the reserve/COVID list, which should add some depth to the team’s interior defensive line. Lancaster played 29 defensive snaps in Week 1 and combined for 35 the following two weeks before being placed on the list.

Practice squad wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown has been activated to the gameday roster for the third time this season and the second game in a row. The surprise move the team made today was elevating offensive lineman Ben Braden, another practice squader, to the gameday roster this week. Braden began the summer as the team’s starting left tackle, with both David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins out.

Braden slowly fell down the depth chart and was eventually passed by Yosh Nijman, now the Packers’ starting tackle due to Jenkins’ ankle injury, as the team’s backup left tackle. Braden was maybe the most surprising player to not make the Packers’ opening day roster but apparently will suit up tomorrow against the Cincinnati Bengals.

One would think you wouldn’t need a third left tackle behind Jenkins and Nijman, if Jenkins is healthy, which might tip the Packers’ hands at who is or isn’t active tomorrow, but it should be noted that backup right tackle Dennis Kelly is also on the injury report for an undisclosed illness.