What do Packers transactions mean for Jordan Love, Jaire Alexander vs. Vikings?

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers added two cornerbacks to the roster on Saturday for their big NFC North showdown against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Lambeau Field?

What do Saturday’s transactions mean for the availability of quarterback Jordan Love and cornerback Jaire Alexander?

Not elevated: QB Sean Clifford

For the last two weeks, the Packers have left Sean Clifford off the practice squad and Jordan Love has been inactive due to the knee injury he suffered against the Eagles.

Not this week. Clifford was not elevated. This is what love means, three weeks and two days after the sinking in Brazil, will be back in the lineup to face the Vikings’ vaunted defense.

“I’m trying to push it forward and I tried to come back as quickly as possible no matter who the opponent was,” Love said this week. “But definitely, look at this week and the NFC North opponent, 3-0 team, really good team, so it would definitely mean a lot to come back and push myself to come back for this game.”

Two weeks ago, the Packers introduced the defense for their home opener against the Colts. On Sunday it’s the offensive’s turn.

“It would be special,” Love said. “It would be my first home game here in Lambeau. It would definitely mean a lot. It was obviously hard to watch the Colts game from the sidelines, but it’s a part of it, a part of the injury process and playing. So when I’m ready, I’ll definitely be very, very excited to be ready.”

Raised: CB Robert Rochell

Carrington Valentine did not practice on Friday and is questionable on the injury report, so he will almost certainly miss a second straight game with an ankle injury.

In addition, top cornerback Jaire Alexander was only able to start the training week with a limited start with an injured quadriceps. Due to a groin injury, Alexander did not practice on Friday and is questionable on the injury report. He could be a game-winning decision Possible singles matchup against All-Pro Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson.

“Yeah, it’s definitely a concern,” coach Matt LaFleur said Sunday. “Any time a guy isn’t working out, it’s definitely concerning.”

With only Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine and Keisean Nixon healthy at cornerback, the Packers signed Robert Rochell from the practice squad for the second straight year.

Rochell was a fourth-round pick by the Rams in 2021. He started in five games and intercepted one pass to help them win the Super Bowl.

The Packers signed him off Carolina’s practice squad in late October last year when Eric Stokes was placed on injured reserve and Alexander was dealing with a back injury. He did not play on defense in nine games, but recorded four tackles on special teams.

The Packers re-signed him to a one-year contract in free agency. With Alexander and Stokes remaining healthy during training camp, Rochell lost his bid for a roster spot to Corey Ballentine.

Elevated: CB Kamal Hadden

With injuries in the defensive backfield, the Packers also increased Kamal Hadden. He was the choice over Kalen King, a seventh-round pick by the Packers that year.

Hadden was selected in the sixth round by the Kansas City Chiefs in this year’s draft.

Hadden boasts excellent size at 6-foot-1 and 192 pounds with 4.57 40 speed. At the University of Tennessee in 2023, he paced the Volunteers with three interceptions and 11 passes defensed, although he missed the last six Missed games due to a shoulder injury.

According to PFF, 125 corners in this draft class played at least 250 coverage snaps. Due to the injury, he narrowly missed the cutoff. Had he played enough snaps, he would have finished third in completion percentage allowed (36.4), first in passer rating allowed (7.0) and third in forced incompletion percentage. He didn’t allow a touchdown.

Hadden only played 22 snaps in the preseason. In eight coverage snaps, PFF charged him with one completion (one target) and 22 yards.

Teams can only add two players to their matchday roster, so they were unable to promote Clifford, Rochell and Hadden.

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