GREEN BAY, Wis. — It’s unclear when the Green Bay Packers will see Jayden Reed on the field again, but it won’t be this season.
Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed on Wednesday that the neck injury Reed sustained in the team’s Sept. 20 win over the New York Jets will require season-ending surgery. He doesn’t believe that it’s a career-threatening injury, but did add that Reed will be out for a “significant” amount of time.
“It’s tough on him,” LaFleur said. “He’s a guy that wants to be out there competing.”
On just the second snap from scrimmage, Reed caught a pass and advanced upfield a couple of yards before absorbing a clean hit from linebacker Demario Davis. It wasn’t long before medical personnel rushed onto the field and teammates—as well as opposing players—were down on one knee, praying. The 26-year-old wideout was placed onto a backboard and carted off MetLife Stadium’s field.
“Anytime you go through a situation like that, it’s a pretty scary deal,” said LaFleur. “I didn’t even realize the magnitude at the time, but certainly, when I was out there with him and seeing what was going on, it kind of shocks you. It jolts you a little bit.
“You never want to see anybody in that position, let alone one of your own guys, let alone a guy you have a lot of love for and brings so much to this organization, this football team, the locker room. He’ll certainly be missed.”
This marks the second consecutive season that Reed, a former No. 50 overall pick, has suffered a major injury in Week 2. He missed 10 games last year—or roughly three months—due to a broken collarbone suffered in the Sept. 11 win over the Washington Commanders that was compounded with a lingering Jones fracture in his foot. He returned to play in the final five games of the regular season, but logged just eight offensive snaps in the finale against the Minnesota Vikings; the majority of the Packers’ starting lineup was held out of the contest.
Reed caught four of his seven targets for 43 yards and a touchdown in the team’s Wild Card loss to the Chicago Bears.
In 2023 and 2024, Reed’s only fully healthy years in the league, he was the Packers’ leading receiver. Ever since, he has yet to return to the level of play that made him such a hot commodity in the Packers’ offense, simply because his availability has been a looming question mark. The Packers knew that when they signed him to a three-year extension worth $50.25 million this past spring, taking a calculated risk on someone whose injury woes appeared to be in the rear-view mirror.
Instead, the Packers will have to pick up the pieces until they have a clear diagnosis on Reed’s future. It’ll be easier said than done, of course, but LaFleur believes that the Packers have the horses in the stable capable of doing so. With Savion Williams still on injured reserve, responsibilities will fall on the trio of Skyy Moore, Bo Melton, and J. Michael Sturdivant.
“It’s tough; like I said, he brings so much,” LaFleur said. “The versatility, how we use him, all the different roles. I’m gonna say it’ll be by committee. There’s other things the other guys can do as well. We’re integrating Skyy Moore into some of that stuff, Bo Melton, J-Mike; all those guys are going to have to share the load.”
Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.
Glad to hear it’s not career ending! Guy can’t catch a break, hoping for the best!