Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but we could be ready for the exciting return to action of none other than Packers star receiver Jayden Reed. Of course, that return has been put to the fore for a good, solid two weeks now, since the Packers opened Reed’s practice window on November 21.
There was ample speculation that he would come back ahead of the Vikings‘ game in Week 12, but that did not pan out. There was also speculation that it would happen on Thanksgiving in a huge game in Detroit–Lions coach Dan Campbell said before that game that he felt Reed would play and was preparing for it. That also failed to materialize, however.
Now we are careening toward the biggest game of the season thus far for the Packers, one that comes with the NFC North at stake, Sunday against the Bears. And again, we’re back on Jayden Reed watch.
Jayden Reed Outlook: ‘Hope So’
Packers coach Matt LaFleur was asked on Friday whether he thinks Reed will be cleared to play on Sunday at Lambeau Field. The best he could offer: “I hope so.”
LaFleur added, “We’re still kind of going through that process of being fully cleared medically.”
That’s where things have been stuck for Reed for all this time, in fact. He has been practicing with the team and he says he feels good. Friday, he was again a full participant in practice, but his status just won’t be known until he gets cleared by the team doctors.
That hasn’t happened. Reed’s case is a bit tricky because he is coming back from not just one but two surgeries. He suffered a fracture in his foot in training camp that he was determined to try to play through this season. But he suffered a broken collarbone in Week 2 vs. the Commanders, and it was after that injury that he decided to get the foot fixed, too.
It’s more likely the foot that is holding Reed back now than the collarbone, medically, though he says both feel about the same.
Packers Loaded WR Room
As for what Reed can bring to the Packers, questions persist about whether he is, or could ever develop into, a true WR1 , but the fact is, he was the most dependable option on the roster over the past two seasons. Reed recorded a team-high 64 catches for 793 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie in 2023 and coming back with 55 catches for 857 yards and six touchdowns in 2024.
He said that the Packers receivers room is already very versatile–he’d only add to it.
“I think we got the full package, man,” Reed said. “We got the best rookie receiver in the draft, in my opinion, in Savion (Williams) and Matthew (Golden). We got the two best rookie receivers in my opinion. We got Donatyvion Wicks, man. Nobody run routes like Wicks. Nobody can run like 9; nobody can catch like Rome (Doubs).
“Nobody can make acrobatic plays like Malik Heath. We just got so many playmakers. Even Bo (Melton) coming off the other side of the ball, man; you could throw him in there, he can make a play. I can name everybody in the room that can contribute in so many different ways, so it’s just great seeing those guys going out there and do what they do. So I’m just excited to see it all come together for this run we gotta make.”
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