Jaire Alexander: I'll never say never about coming back

When Jaire Alexander stepped away from the Eagles last season, there was word that he planned to "focus on getting himself right physically and mentally before deciding on his future" as a player.

Alexander's knee troubles led to the Packers releasing the cornerback after the 2024 season and he wrote in an essay for The Players Tribune that he struggled to deal with that release while likening the end of his seven-year run in Green Bay to a "divorce." He signed with the Ravens, but had a poor outing in a season-opening loss to the Bills that left him "very, very embarrassed" and doubting his health. He would only play one more game as Baltimore deactivated him in order to try to recover on both fronts and eventually traded him to the Eagles.

Alexander wrote that he made the decision to step away without appearing in a game because his knee began troubling him again and that led to a repeat of doubts about his ability to do the job. He wrote that he "needed to listen to myself, and look out for myself, and put my well-being first." Alexander's essay outlines some of the ways he's done that and whether he is considering a return to the field.

"People still sometimes ask me if I’m ever gonna come back and play," Alexander wrote. "And, you know what . . . I’ll never say never — I still work out, and the knee’s fine now, so I’m in good shape. But for me, right now, the most important thing really is just to be in a good place overall. To be happy."

Alexander had previously addressed his mental health and the detail he shares in the essay underlines how difficult last season was for him. His play when healthy in Green Bay would likely earn him a look if he does decide to play again, but it's far from certain things will play out that way.