The Green Bay Packers have barely set foot on the field for the 2025 NFL preseason, and already their depth chart is looking thin. It only took one preseason game to make injuries the main story in Green Bay, with their wide receiver group getting hit especially hard. Now, with Jayden Reed in a walking boot and fans left guessing how long he will be out, the Packers are scrambling for answers just weeks before the games start to count.
Why Are So Many Green Bay Packers Receivers Injured Before the 2025 Season?
Receiver Christian Watson is still working his way back from ACL surgery and won’t return before the season begins. Meanwhile, Dontayvion Wicks is sidelined because of a calf injury. On top of that, Reed was seen in a boot during the Packers’ preseason matchup with the New York Jets, and that’s left everyone wondering what exactly happened and when he might be back on the field.
According to ESPN, Reed has not taken part in practice since Wednesday. Things got even more concerning when reporter Carson Fowler posted a photo of Reed standing on the sideline at Lambeau Field with a walking boot on his left foot during the 30-10 preseason loss to the Jets.
Head coach Matt LaFleur tried to keep things positive after the loss, saying, “Hopefully we’ll get him back before the regular season. Potentially.” Still, LaFleur admitted, “I think anytime you see a guy in a boot, that’s a concern.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Reed is dealing with a sprained foot and is day to day. When asked about his injury, Reed kept things vague: “I don’t want to be wrong about anything, so I ain’t going to be the one to say it.”
#Packers WR Jayden Reed with a boot on his left foot. pic.twitter.com/C7bRWonUDB
— Carson Fowler (@CarsonFowlerTV) August 10, 2025
Reed has been Green Bay’s top receiver for the past two seasons. The Packers picked him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Michigan State. Reed has already missed time during training camp, spending stretches on the non-football injury list due to a toe problem on his right foot. He also had issues with his foot tied to his shoe. However, neither injury is related to this current foot sprain. Reed said the latest setback happened after he “cut wrong in practice.”
The Reed news only adds to the list of receivers sitting out for the Packers. They were missing four of their top six pass catchers in the preseason game against the Jets. Watson is still on the physically unable to perform list, recovering from his ACL surgery in January, and is not expected to be ready for the start of the season.
Jayden Reed is a downfield demon not a gadgety catch-and-run player https://t.co/F2TUo1dyUB pic.twitter.com/vAzLdxOeVb
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) July 26, 2025
Wicks’ calf injury has kept him out of most training camp sessions. On top of that, rookie Savion Williams, the Packers’ third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has a shoulder injury and did not suit up for the Jets game.
There are issues on defense, too, with starting cornerback Nate Hobbs and All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney both sidelined. For Green Bay to improve on their postseason finish from 2024, they need to get healthy, and fast.
