It was almost the perfect night as the Green Bay Packers made a statement with a victory over the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football. Unfortunately, head coach Matt LaFleur delivered the worst possible injury update on Jayden Reed in his postgame press conference.
Reed exited the game after landing awkwardly on his shoulder in the first quarter. LaFleur confirmed that the Packers’ star wide receiver will miss significant time with a broken collarbone.
“He’s going to miss a lot of time, unfortunately. He broke his collarbone. He’ll be down for quite some time,” said LaFleur. “We’ll see how fast he can recover and heal. Certainly, I would expect him back at some point this season.”
Packers will need to adjust after Jayden Reed suffers significant injury in Week 2
It’s a heartbreaking update for Reed, who was already battling through a foot injury.
“Obviously, it’s a big blow for us,” said LaFleur. “He’s a guy that’s a catalyst for our offense and our football team, quite frankly. The energy he brings. He’s a dawg. He comes out there and he’s gonna compete. He plays tough, physical, and he’s a playmaker.”
Now, the Packers must adjust.
In his absence, Jordan Love targeted Tucker Kraft seven times, with the tight end hauling in six passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. Love looked Dontayvion Wicks’ way six times, making four connections for 44 yards. Malik Heath, Luke Musgrave, Romeo Doubs, and Chris Brooks each had receptions.
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Love will need to find better chemistry with first-round rookie Matthew Golden, who could take on many of Reed’s snaps in the slot. Love underthrew a potential touchdown to Golden early on, allowing Commanders cornerback Trey Amos to break it up. Golden’s opportunities should increase moving forward.
It’s heartbreaking for Reed. If there’s a positive, it’s that his absence will also allow him to recover from a foot issue that may have bothered him for much of the year. A broken collarbone in Week 2 shouldn’t end his season, as LaFleur said. Hopefully, he can come back 100 percent in time for a playoff run.
