The Packers are heading into a critical stretch of games with a record–6-3-1–that has them firmly in the mix to win the NFC North and possibly land on top of the conference. Yet, it’s also a disappointment, as all three losses have come by three points in games the team easily could have won. Getting back every bit of offensive help would be a bonus for the Packers, and that might well start with star receiver Jayden Reed.
On Friday, the Packers took a major step in getting Reed back from surgeries on his collar bone and foot, opening up his practice window as he attempts to return from injured reserve. The team now has 21 days to get Reed back on the 53-man roster.
Reed spoke about his injuries and potential return after practice on Friday and revealed that, though he won’t be on the field on Sunday against the Vikings, he anticipates playing soon after that–either on Thanksgiving against the Lions or on December 7 against the Bears. Reed said he has been able to advance his conditioning over the last few weeks, so getting his wind should not be a problem.
Jayden Reed Had 2 Separate Surgeries
Speaking after Packers practice, Reed addressed his return date, saying, “I don’t know I am just following the protocol and do what I am told. So I don’t know when I will be back but hopefully it will be soon.”
Reed originally hurt his foot in training camp, and though it was troublesome, he played through the injury in the first two weeks of the year, catching three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown in the opening win over the Lions before suffering the collar bone injury in Week 2 against the Commanders.
Once it was clear he would be out for as long as two months because of the collar bone, Reed decided to get the foot fixed, too. He had a small fracture in one of his bones.
“That was more of a me thing, trying to work through it,” he said. “But it definitely needed to be taken care of and I am glad that everything happened the way it happened for me to be able to do that. That’s just where I am at right now.”
Packers Offense Has Struggled
It has been a tough couple of months for Reed, watching the Packers offense struggle at times, while he, too, was struggling to recover from two separate surgeries. Reed has been the Packers’ leading receiver in each of the past two seasons.
“It’s a whole lot of ups and downs,” Reed said. “There are a lot of mixed emotions and things that came with it. But I got all the right people around me, preparing me for this moment. …
“Both of the (injuries) have their days. Some days, collarbone was hurting more, some days, foot was hurting more. But I am feeling pretty good now.”
Jayden Reed: Packers ‘Have Every Piece’
Reed said that being out as long as he was showed him how tenuous life in the NFL can be, and taught him to value the moments when he does play.
“You just gotta appreciate when you are out there,” he said. “You never know when it is your last snap. The first time I got surgery, and I got two surgeries—this is a serious game we play and it takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears. It can get to your mental sometimes as well. So you’ve got to take care of that kind of stuff. I am just glad I have the right people around me to take care of that kind of stuff.”
As for the Packers, Reed said he still thinks this is a Super Bowl team.
“I really do believe in this team, we got a lot of playmakers on this team, we got a great leadership on the team. I think we have every piece we need to get where we want to go,” Reed said.
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