Green Bay Packers release Friday injury report ahead of Saints game

The Green Bay Packers released a final practice injury report ahead of a home matchup with the New Orleans Saints and a new name cropped up: Star cornerback Jaire Alexander. He practiced in a limited capacity on Friday due to a back injury.

Alexander, along with four other Packers, are questionable heading into the weekend. Two more — guard Elgton Jenkins and safety Zayne Anderson — are out.

“His back was acting up a little bit, so we’ll monitor that and we’ll see where he’s at,” head coach Matt LaFleur said of Alexander after Friday’s practice.

Along with Alexander on the questionable list are running back Aaron Jones, wideout Christian Watson, tackle David Bakhtiari and rookie defensive end Lukas Van Ness. Jones missed Week 2 and Watson has yet to play this season.

“We’re just trying to be as smart as we can with it and go hard for two days and (not) take multiple steps back by doing too much,” Watson said, according to Packers team writer Wes Hodkiewicz. “We’re trying to do everything that I can to get something positive out of it and try not get as little negative out of it as possible.”

Edge rusher Rashan Gary and punter Daniel Whelan both head into the weekend without a designation after the week of practice. Gary had been limited but has played in both games so far this season.

The Packers are off to a 1-1 start in 2023 as quarterback Jordan Love settles into the starting role. But playing a home opener on Sunday with a potentially depleted offense unit around a rookie quarterback is not the picture the Packers want to be looking at just a few weeks into the season.

Packers Friday injury report for Week 3

DNP: Anderson (hamstring) — out, Bakhtiari (knee) — questionable, Jenkins (knee) — out

Limited: Alexander (back) — questionable, Gary (knee), Jones (hamstring) — questionable, Van Ness (elbow) — questionable, Watson (hamstring) — questionable

Full participant: Whelan (finger)

Things are trending up for at least one offensive weapon

The Packers returned Jones to practice on Thursday after he wrapped up recovery from a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for Week 2.

In Week 1’s win over the Bears, Jones had nine carries for 41 yards and a touchdown before exiting the game with a hamstring injury. Last season, the former fifth-rounder out of UTEP posted 213 carries and a career-high of 1,121 rushing yards.

Without Jones in the lineup last week against the Atlanta Falcons, AJ Dillon led the Packers running backs with 15 carries for 55 yards.