Packers' Jaire Alexander trashes Justin Jefferson's dominant Week 1 as a 'fluke' before Vikings rematch
Justin Jefferson won't run all over the Green Bay Packers a second time.
At least, that's what Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander says headed into their rematch Sunday.
The Minnesota Vikings wide receiver made 11 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns in that game, helping the Vikings beat Green Bay 23-7. However, Alexander is not expecting Jefferson to replicate his performance when the two teams clash again on Sunday and says the previous one was a fluke.
"You've just got to be real: He don't jump in no super suit and get dressed and jump outside, you hear me?" Alexander said Thursday. "I don't either, sometimes. But he [is] human, is what I'm saying. We ain't putting too much on nobody.
"He's a really good receiver. 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."
Alexander, named to the Pro Bowl this season for the second time in his career, said Jefferson is among his top three receivers.
"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."
Throughout his three-year career, Jefferson has tormented most teams he's faced, but he's often been held relatively in check by the Packers. In the two games in 2020, he combined for just five catches on seven targets for 52 yards. He went off in Week 11 of 2021 against Green Bay, catching eight of 10 targets for 169 yards and two touchdowns, but then was relatively quiet in Week 17 with just six catches for 58 yards and no touchdowns.
Alexander did not play in either of the 2021 matchups, but he did log two games against Jefferson in 2020 and did an adequate job in his limited chances against the star rookie corner.
