'Big mistake': Packers CB Jaire Alexander crashes coin toss, nearly blows call vs. Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In his first game back from a left shoulder injury, Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander ran out with the captains for the coin flip when he wasn’t supposed to, caused confusion when he didn’t say the word “defer” after winning the toss and had an up-and-down day covering Carolina Panthers receivers as the Packers squeaked by with a 33-30 win over one of the league's worst teams.

Maybe not a typical day for most cornerbacks, but not exactly a surprising day for him.

Alexander, who grew up in Charlotte and attended high school in suburban Mint Hill, had extra motivation to return for this game.

When asked what led to him being available this week after practicing the past five weeks and not playing, Alexander wasn’t clear on what the difference was. However, he did say that people were not aware how serious the injury was and then declined to say what it was.

"I mean, honestly, it took a collective effort to get me out there because what I got going on a lot of people check out of the season,” he said. “I don’t like to talk about my injuries but, you know, it took like the whole Packers organization, just everybody to get me back out there and feel comfortable enough to push through.”

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Asked if he was playing for sure next week, he said, “Maybe.”

Before he even played a snap, Alexander nearly cost his team at the coin flip.

The regular captains were Aaron Jones, Quay Walker and Eric Wilson, one for offense, one for defense and one for special teams. The Packers rotate game captains but they don’t ever bring out a fourth, so it was unusual for Alexander to come out with the group.

Coach Matt LaFleur wouldn't say if Alexander had permission to be out there.

As the visiting team, the Packers called the toss and Alexander yelled out “Tails.” It was tails.

LaFleur wanted to defer his choice to the second half and make the Panthers choose in the first half. The winner of the coin flip is supposed to tell the referee that his team has chosen “to defer.”

But that’s not what Alexander told referee Alex Kemp. He told him that the Packers want to go on defense.

If that’s what the Packers declare, then that’s their choice − to be on defense and kickoff to start the game − and Carolina would have the choice in the second half. Under that scenario, Carolina would receive both the first-half and second-half kickoffs.

Alexander wasn’t sure what he did wrong. When told, he didn’t say defer, he said, “I told him that I wanted our defense to be out there. And they all looked at me like I was crazy. I mean, it’s pretty simple when I say I want the defense out there.”

But Kemp made sure he knew what was being called.

“He was like, ‘Defer?’” Alexander said. “’Yeah.’ I was like. Everybody was like, ‘yeah.’ Everybody was laughing. I’m like, ‘What are y’all laughing at? It’s pretty obvious what I’m asking for.’”

LaFleur said the players going out for the toss have very specific directions.

"That’s a big mistake," LaFleur said. "That’s something you review with the guys before you go out there every time, about, 'Hey, we win the toss we’re going to defer.’

"I went to the officials before the game to make sure they knew what we were going to do. We had an instance earlier this season where we had a similar situation, so we were just trying to be proactive in that approach."

He said it was not unusual for the referee to double check that he understood what the team that won the flip wanted.

"I don’t think they ever want to get that (wrong)," he said. "I’ve seen it in other games, they don’t want it."

Alexander said he thought it was fitting for him to go out for the coin toss given his background and didn't give it a second thought. He didn't say whether LaFleur gave him permission to be out there.

“I don’t think Coach knew I was from Charlotte,” Alexander said. “It was, I mean, the guys backed me up. They knew I was from here.”

Alexander started at his usual right cornerback position and wound up playing a heavy dose of man coverage, which is his preference. He gave up some first-down completions, including a 16-yarder to receiver D.J. Chark on Carolina’s 60-yard drive that cut Green Bay’s lead to 30-22.

He also was part of a zone coverage in which Chark caught a 20-yard pass on the 70-yard drive that tied the game at 30-30.

But he also broke up a touchdown pass on a third-quarter deep ball in which he raced down the field and caught up to tight end Stephen Sullivan enough that the ball hit him in the back. The Panthers wound up scoring on the drive after inside linebacker Isaiah McDuffie was called for roughing the passer on the play.

Alexander had four tackles and a forced fumble that Carolina recovered.