Steelers game biggest test yet for Packers' youth movement

A long injury report could result in a trio of young players stepping into bigger roles when the Packers take on the Steelers this Sunday.

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Last Sunday's win ended a four-game skid for the Green Bay Packers. Though the performance looked far from perfect, the progress made by the team's young players offered some optimism, however measured, for better play during the second half of the 2023 season.

Already, the Packers' good vibes face a major test. Multiple starters popped up on the injury report since late last week with new or additional ailments, including cornerback Jaire Alexander, center Josh Myers, guard Jon Runyan Jr., and linebacker Quay Walker. With a tough road matchup against the 5-3 Pittsburgh Steelers just around the corner, the absence of even one of those players would create significant problems on game day.

Alexander's situation seems particularly concerning. The star corner has already missed time this season with back trouble, but he has yet to practice this week due to a shoulder issue. While the exact nature and severity of the injury remain unclear, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur didn't paint a rosy outlook when asked about Alexander.

"I'd say so," LaFleur said when asked if he had concerns about Alexander's availability on Sunday. "Two days in a row not practicing."

LaFleur didn't offer any insights as to whether Alexander's shoulder injury might keep him sidelined on a longer-term basis.

No good time exists for the Packers to lose arguably their best player, but this moment looks more difficult than most. Just over a week ago, the team traded away Pro Bowl cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills, a decision made in part to create more opportunities for recent draft picks like Eric Stokes and Carrington Valentine.

"I do like the young guys in that room, Stokes, Valentine. I expect those guys to fill the gaps," Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst said of the Douglas trade, adding, "For us right now, we have some young players at that position that we really like, we want to see play, we need to see play."

With Stokes and Valentine in the lineup, an Alexander absence wouldn't affect the defense as profoundly. However, Stokes began the 2023 season on the physically unable to perform list due to a hamstring injury and lasted less than a game before his other hamstring forced him back to the training room. Stokes went on injured reserve two weeks ago and will miss at least the next two games.

That leaves Valentine, a seventh-round rookie, as the lone healthy boundary corner on the Packers' roster with at least 100 defensive snaps under his belt in 2023.