GREEN BAY — The Detroit Lions aren’t exactly the ideal team to face when your defense could be down two of its preferred starters in the defensive backfield.
But that’s exactly the prospect the Green Bay Packers are facing after losing rookie safety Evan Williams (hamstring) and cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) to injuries during Sunday’s 30-27 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“It definitely affects things,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Monday afternoon during his customary day-after-the-game Q&A session with reporters at Lambeau Field. “You’re talking about two of our starters, guys that have played really good football for us.”
The Lions (6-1) come into next Sunday’s NFC North showdown with the Packers (6-2) having won five straight games and having scored a combined 172 points in their last four victories — including their 52-14 drubbing of the Tennessee Titans at Ford Field on Sunday.
In seven games, the Lions offense has had 24 explosive plays of 20 yards or more (3.43 per game) and six plays of 40 yards or more (0.86 per game).
For comparison’s sake, in eight games, the Packers offense has 30 explosive plays of 20-plus yards (3.75 per game) and seven of 40-plus yards (0.88 per game).
The Packers defense’s biggest issue against the Jaguars on Sunday was its inability to prevent big plays. Jacksonville had eight pass completions that went for 20 or more yards.
“We’ve got to tackle better, we’ve got to communicate better, we’ve got to execute better,” LaFleur said.
Many of those explosive plays came after Williams, who had moved into the starting lineup alongside veteran safety Xavier McKinney, departed during the first half. With Williams out, the Packers had to reshuffle their secondary.
Because of Williams’ emergence, the Packers had been going with Williams and McKinney at safety, Alexander and Keisean Nixon (who’d previously been the nickel/slot corner) at outside cornerback and rookie safety Javon Bullard (who had been starting alongside McKinney at safety) as the nickelback.
But with Williams going down, the Packers moved Bullard back to safety, Nixon back inside and brought Eric Stokes off the bench to line up at outside cornerback in passing situations. Late in the game, Carrington Valentine replaced Stokes, who was beaten for a big downfield gain during the Jaguars’ final touchdown drive.
“I think when Evan went out, that set off a chain reaction in the back end,” LaFleur said. “But it’s the mentality of next-man-up.”
Alexander played all 57 of the Packers defensive snaps but was injured on Jaguars tight end Evan Engram’s game-tying touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter. As Engram went up for the ball, Alexander was hopping on one leg and unable to elevate and help Nixon on the play.
“We feel confident in that room,” LaFleur said of his expectations if Williams and Alexander are out. “We’ve got a lot of players in that room that have played good ball for us and they’re going to have to go out there and do it against arguably the best team in the NFL.
“They’re really, really good. And we knew that. We knew that going into the year, and it’s not shocking to me.”
