Packers confirm troubling injury news, and the outcome will test their thinner depth on offense
Wide receiver Jayden Reed is out for the season after suffering a neck injury against the Jets in Week 2, only months after signing a three-year extension.
The Green Bay Packers made an unfortunate but predictable move with wide receiver Jayden Reed. The team placed Reed on injured reserve because of the neck injury he suffered in Week 2 against the New York Jets. As a consequence, the Packers’ wide receiver depth, already thin after a busy offseason, takes another hit.
Head coach Matt LaFleur later confirmed that Reed will have neck surgery and is out for the season, even though the injury is not expected to be career-ending.
Unfortunate situation for Reed and the Packers
Reed went down against the Jets after a four-yard reception. Linebacker Demario Davis tackled him, and the Packers receiver left the game with a neck injury and went to the hospital. Since then, the team has tried to figure out exactly what type of injury Reed is dealing with.
The Packers didn’t place Reed on injured reserve ahead of their Week 3 game against the Atlanta Falcons. That ultimately doesn’t matter since Reed will be out for the entire season.
Green Bay signed Reed to a three-year, $50.25 million extension this offseason, and he ended up playing essentially one game and two plays of the second game before the injury.
Thinner depth chart will be tested
The bigger problem is what the injury does to the rest of the position. The Packers lost Romeo Doubs to the New England Patriots in free agency, and they traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles. That’s a lot of change for one position group in a single offseason.
In terms of depth, the situation isn’t as comfortable as it had been in Green Bay. Outside of the top of the depth chart, the potential options on the 53-man roster are limited. Skyy Moore, who is more of a returner, Bo Melton, and undrafted rookie J. Michael Sturdivant.
The Packers will lean on Christian Watson and Matthew Golden as their primary two receivers. Both players now carry a heavier load, and the offense needs them to stay healthy and produce consistently.
Green Bay may also shift its personnel approach. The team could use more multiple tight end sets with Tucker Kraft, Jonnu Smith, and Mark Redman. It’s a logical way to get the best available players on the field instead of forcing snaps to receivers lower on the depth chart.
