When the Green Bay Packers drafted cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson in the first two rounds of this year’s NFL draft, it was a foregone conclusion both would have to contribute immediately.
With one week in their rookie seasons’ complete, color their defensive coordinator impressed.
Mike Pettine leaned heavily on both rookies Sunday night. Alexander played 49 of the 70 defensive snaps and Jackson played 46.
While both made mistakes, one thing was clear to Pettine and anyone else who watched the game: neither of the two youngsters were overmatched and you really never said the same about the duo’s predecessors, Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins.