The Green Bay Packers started the 2025 season strong, winning their first two games before falling in Week 3. A key difference in that loss was the absence of star receiver Jayden Reed, who will also miss Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys.
What’s Keeping Jayden Reed off the Field?
Reed was quarterback Jordan Love’s top target last season, hauling in 55 receptions for 857 yards in addition to finding the end zone six times. He even had an additional 20 carries that went for 163 yards, making him the only player in the NFL with 800-plus receiving yards and 150-plus rushing yards in 2024.
However, during the Wild Card Round tilt against the Philadelphia Eagles, he suffered an apparent shoulder injury on a hit from Reed Blankenship. It put him out for the rest of the game and the season.
Reed recovered in time for the Packers’ Week 1 matchup against the Detroit Lions and hauled in three receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown. However, tragedy struck the next time the Packers took the field.
Early in the first quarter of their Week 2 win over the Commanders, Love tried to connect with Reed on a 39-yard bomb. The play was called back due to a holding penalty. But the cost for the Packers was far steeper than just 39 receiving yards.
Falling out of bounds, Reed was tackled from behind by safety Quan Martin. Unfortunately, he fell on his shoulder, leading to Reed being immediately taken out of the game. On further diagnosis, it was confirmed that he had suffered a fractured collarbone.
After the game, head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Reed was heading to the injured reserve list with a long recovery process.
“He’s going to miss a lot of time,” LaFleur said. “Unfortunately, he broke his collarbone, so he’ll be down for quite some time. We’ll see how fast he can recover and heal. Certainly, I would expect him back at some point this season, but obviously it’s a big blow to us.”
Reed underwent surgery shortly after his injuries, facing a projected six- to eight-week recovery for his collarbone. He also received treatment for his foot. On September 16, he took to X to announce, “Successful foot & clavicle surgery, thank you God.”
His recovery timeline remains unchanged, with a potential return in November to bolster the Packers’ receiving corps.
In Reed’s absence, third-year receiver Dontayvion Wicks and rookies Matthew Golden and Savion Williams have stepped up, with Wicks and Golden combining for 95 and 68 receiving yards, respectively.
