Jayden Reed’s injury status remains uncertain, but latest update offers a glimmer of hope for the Packers
Wide receiver actually suffered a back injury, and not a neck issue as was initially perceived.
The Green Bay Packers received a more encouraging injury update on wide receiver Jayden Reed after a scary moment during Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Reed injured his back, not his neck, on the second offensive play of the contest. After spending Sunday night in the New Jersey-New York area, the Packers wide receiver will return to Green Bay, where the team is still evaluating the best treatment and recovery time frame.
A better outcome than initially feared
During the game, the Packers ruled Reed out and listed the injury as a neck issue. The updated diagnosis is a positive development for Green Bay because neck injuries tend to carry more serious long-term implications. That said, the recovery timeline remains unclear, and the Packers have not yet determined when Reed will be able to return to the field.
Reed will most likely not play against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday. There is a very realistic possibility he could return at some point this season, but the Packers are still working through the evaluation process.
Reed suffered the injury after being tackled by Jets linebacker Demario Davis. He had a four-yard reception on the play before exiting. Through the first two weeks of the season, Reed had four receptions for 24 yards.
Reed signed a three-year, $50.25 million contract extension with the Packers earlier this offseason, keeping him under contract in Green Bay through 2029. This year, he earned $21.24 million in cash because of his $16.5 million signing bonus. His cash figure drops to $5.875 million in 2027 before stabilizing at $12.625 million in 2028 and $12.25 million in 2029.
Most of Reed’s per-game active bonuses and escalators kick in starting in 2027. Missing games in 2026 won’t be as financially impactful for the former second-round pick as it would be in later years of the deal.
Thin depth at wide receiver for the Packers
The larger concern for the Packers is the state of the wide receiver room. Savion Williams is already on injured reserve and will miss at least two more games. With Reed also sidelined, Green Bay’s options are limited.
Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are the two starters. Behind them, Skyy Moore, Bo Melton, and undrafted rookie J. Michael Sturdivant round out the 53-man roster options. On the practice squad, Isaiah Neyor and recently signed Quincy Skinner Jr. provide additional depth.
The Packers lost Romeo Doubs to the New England Patriots in free agency and traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, leaving the position group thinner than it has been in recent years. Green Bay feels confident that Watson and Golden can carry the load as primary options, with Moore and Melton serving as complementary pieces in the short term.
