GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers have made the decision to suspend cornerback Jaire Alexander for Sunday night's crucial showdown against the Minnesota Vikings. The suspension comes as a result of Alexander appointing himself as a captain for the Packers' recent win over the Carolina Panthers.

The suspension, which is described as being one game long, is due to Alexander's "conduct detrimental to the team," according to a statement from the club. The decision was made by head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst.

In a statement, Gutekunst expressed the challenging nature of suspending a player but emphasized the importance of putting the team first. He also expressed confidence in Alexander's ability to learn from this experience and continue to be a valued member of the team.

Alexander's return to the lineup against the Panthers marked his first game back after missing six games due to a shoulder injury. Despite not being named one of the team's weekly captains by LaFleur, Alexander felt that being in his hometown of Charlotte warranted him the captain title.

The suspension means Alexander will not be on the field for the critical game against the Vikings, where both teams are vying to stay in the NFC playoff race. The Packers and Vikings are currently tied with 7-8 records.

The Vikings, on the other hand, face a potential quarterback change as they prepare to face the Packers. They have not indicated whether they will start Jaren Hall, Nick Mullens, or Joshua Dobbs. Regardless, the focus will be on wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who has been an unstoppable force against the Packers in recent home games.

Following the Vikings' loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Jefferson proved his prowess with six receptions for 141 yards and one touchdown. In his previous matchups against the Packers, Jefferson has recorded impressive numbers, including eight receptions for 169 yards and two touchdowns in 2021 and nine receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns in 2022.

With Alexander suspended, the Packers will have to rely on their other defensive players to step up and fill the void. LaFleur expressed confidence in the team's depth and the "next man up" mentality.

As the game looms, the Packers and Vikings are looking to secure a crucial victory to stay in the playoff race. The absence of Alexander creates a challenge for the Packers, but they remain determined to overcome the obstacle and come out on top.

In other team news, the Packers held a walkthrough practice with limited participation from players such as Jayden Reed and Darnell Savage. Certain players, including Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks, De'Vondre Campbell, and Elgton Jenkins, did not participate due to various injuries.

The previous encounter between the Packers and Vikings resulted in a 24-10 victory for the Vikings. However, Packers quarterback Jordan Love believes that the team has grown since then and is confident in their ability to perform better this time around.

Both teams will be pushing for a victory in the upcoming game, as the stakes are high and a playoff spot hangs in the balance.