Packers cornerbacks need to show up against Eagles
By GERY WOELFEL
It has been a rarity in recent seasons to see both of the Packers regular starting cornerbacks on the field at the same time.
Both Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes have simply been unable to stay healthy. Take last season, for example. That’s when Stokes managed to play a mere three games and Alexander, the second-highest paid defensive back in the NFL, played only seven games – or less than half of the season.
Alexander’s and Stokes’ lack of availability last season shouldn’t have surprised anyone. They have a history of missing games. Three seasons ago, Alexander managed to play in a paltry four games. Two seasons ago, Stokes played only nine games.
Fortunately for the Packers, both Stokes and Alexander are healthy and ready to go for Friday night’s game between the Packers and Eagles in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The Packers will certainly need both of them to play like the first-round draft selections they were: Alexander was the 18th overall selection in the 2018 draft and Stokes was the 29th overall pick in the 2021 draft.
How well Alexander and Stokes perform figures to be perhaps the biggest key to the game. That’s because they have the daunting task of guarding arguably the best tandem of receivers in the league in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
Brown ranked fifth in receiving yards last season with 1,456. Smith ranked 20th with 1,066 yards. They were the only teammates in the league to rank in the top 20.
Brown and Smith are also scoring weapons. Each of them totaled seven touchdown receptions last season.
Yes, Alexander and Stokes will have their work cut out trying to keep Brown and Smith in check. But if they are successful, so will the Packers.
Prediction: Eagles 27, Packers 24.
