Jaire Alexander Decides to Take a Break From NFL Before Playing a Snap for Eagles

228-year-old Jaire Alexander was a highly regarded first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in the 2018 NFL Draft, quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s premier cornerbacks. Recognizing his talent and potential, the Packers rewarded him in 2022 with a lucrative four-year, $84 million contract extension, signaling their commitment to him as a cornerstone of their defense.

However, in a surprising turn of events, the Packers released Alexander in June of this year, a move that sent ripples through the NFL community given his previous stature with the team. Shortly after, Alexander signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens, where he made limited appearances, playing in just two games during the current season. His time in Baltimore was brief, as he was subsequently traded to the Philadelphia Eagles at this year’s deadline.

The NFL world was truly stunned yet again by Alexander last Tuesday night when news broke that he would be stepping away from the Eagles to prioritize his mental and physical health. In response, the Eagles placed him on the retirement list, a rare designation indicating the seriousness of his decision to take time off from professional football.

To fill the unexpected void left by Alexander’s absence, the Eagles promptly activated Jakorian Bennett, a cornerback they had acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders during the offseason. Bennett is now expected to step into the role as Alexander’s replacement, tasked with bolstering Philadelphia’s secondary in the wake of this sudden circumstance.