Brian Gutekunst had himself a busy Tuesday.

In addition to interviewing players and talking to agents at the NFL Scouting Combine, the Packers general manager did a lengthy Q&A sessions with Wisconsin writers, another with state TV reporters and a third with the national media.

In all, Gutekunst talked for more than an hour about a Green Bay team that went 11-7 in 2024, finished third in the NFC North and lost its playoff opener to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia in the wild card round.

Here are the highlights from Gutekunst’s busy day.

Jaire Alexander hasn’t requested a trade — for now

Packers injury-plagued cornerback Jaire Alexander has been as reliable as your local weather forecast in recent years.

In the last four seasons, Alexander has missed 34 of a potential 68 games due to injury and suspension. And in three of those campaigns, Alexander has played seven games, or fewer.

In 2024, Alexander missed 10 games due to quadricep and groin injuries, as well as a torn posterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee. Alexander last took the field on Nov. 17 against Chicago, played just 10 snaps due to a knee injury and was never heard from again.

When the season ended, Alexander said: “You don’t want to hear what I’ve got to say. … I don’t have anything good to say.”

Gutekunst said he’s had talks with Alexander’s agent, John Thornton. And as of now, Alexander — who would count $25.5 million against next year’s salary cap — hasn’t asked for a trade.

The Packers could ask Alexander to take a pay cut. They could also pick up $6.8 million in cap space by moving on from the disgruntled cornerback.

It seems a divorce would be best for both parties.

“I think the past few years have been very frustrating for him and certainly for us too, just because you want players like that on the field consistently, and when you can’t be because of injuries, that’s a tough thing,” Gutekunst said. “As a player I know he’s doing everything he can to be out there, but yeah, I think the last few years haven’t been where we wanted to be.”

Heart’s in the right place

Packers’ Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs made headlines earlier this month when he said: “We’ve got a really young group of receivers. All can be really, really, really special, but I think personally we need a guy that’s proven to be a No. 1 already.”

Gutekunst said he wasn’t bothered one bit by those comments.

“Well, I appreciate Josh,” Gutekunst said. “We talked a little bit about this at the end of the season, what does that mean? Is that a tight end, running back? The one thing I do know is Josh desperately wants to win, and I really do appreciate that about him. I think he’d like to have as many good players as we can get.

“His desire to win and win a championship is very strong. From the time we got him he’s been that way, so his heart’s absolutely in the right place.”

Chip on their shoulder

The Packers started the year an impressive 11-4 and seemed on track to accomplish many of their goals in 2024. Then Green Bay went 0-3 down the stretch, which according to Gutekunst, left everyone in the organization with a sour taste.

“There’s a standard in our building, and at the end of the season, we didn’t meet that standard,” Gutekunst said. “We certainly think this group is capable of doing that, and we want to make sure that everybody understands where we’re trying to go. And I think they do, and I think we’re all excited to get back together and start working towards that.”

Killing the tush push

Gutekunst confirmed that Green Bay submitted a proposal to the NFL to ban the Philadelphia Eagles’ short yardage play known as the ‘Tush Push.’

“It’s been around for a while,” Gutekunst said. “We’ve used it in different fashions with our tight end, so, again, I think there will be a lot of discussions about it. I kind of got to look at the, some of the information as far as injury rates, things like that to see. But we’ll see.”

The play — in which quarterback Jalen Hurts runs a QB sneak and is pushed from behind my multiple teammates — has been highly successful. Some have argued, though, that there’s a higher risk of injury with the play.

“The way that the techniques that are used with that play to me have been potentially contrary to the health and safety of the players,” said Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott, who sits on the NFL’s competition committee. “Again, you have to go back — in fairness — to the injury data on the play. “But I just think the optics of it, I’m not in love with.”

Trading out of Round 1

Green Bay will be home to the NFL Draft in April. The town — heck, the entire state — will be electric as the Packers’ first round pick (No. 23) approaches.

The locals might call for Gutekunst’s head if he ruins their party and trades out of Round 1. But Gutekunst said anything and everything is possible — including trading out of the first round if the right offer comes along.

“(Team president and CEO) Mark (Murphy) actually made a joke the other day,” Gutekunst said. “He was just like, ‘I wanna make sure you know you can trade.’

“But yeah, I am super excited about the draft being in Green Bay, which I didn’t think I’d say because it’s gonna be a little bit of some tough days for us trying to get in and out. But I think it’s gonna be such a cool thing for the community, our organization, it’s gonna be neat, but yeah, it will have no effect on what we do with that pick.”

Wyatt and Walker

The Packers must decide this offseason whether to pick up the fifth-year options of both linebacker Quay Walker and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt.

Both players — taken in the first round in 2022 — have had solid, but far from spectacular starts to their careers. But Gutekunst seemed as if he was leaning towards picking up the options of both players.

“We want both of those guys around,” Gutekunst said. “They’ve done a really good job for us since we got them. I think their best football’s still in front of them.”

Wait and see

Green Bay currently sits $44.5 million under the salary cap. The Packers could pick up additional room by moving on from Alexander or adjusting contracts.

Either way, Green Bay will have lots of spending money when free agency begins on March 12.

Gutekunst hit home runs in free agency last year signing running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney. He also came up big with his 2019 class of outside linebackers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith, safety Adrian Amos and offensive lineman Billy Turner.

This year’s group of free agents might not have as much star power, but many expect Gutekunst to be aggressive.

“Last year’s free agency class was unique,” Gutekunst said of the talented players that reached the market. “So there’s not a ton of those guys. But I’m sure there are opportunities there. Every free agency class is a little bit different. This one doesn’t seem to be probably as strong as some, but we’ll kind of see how it goes.”