Packers Get Key Reinforcements Ahead of Rivalry Clash with Bears
The stakes are high in Green Bay this week - and not just because it's Bears week. For the first time in over a decade, this Packers-Bears matchup carries serious weight in the standings, and Green Bay is getting a much-needed injection of talent at just the right time.
Wide receiver Jayden Reed and linebacker Quay Walker are both set to return from injuries, giving the Packers a boost on both sides of the ball as they prepare for a physical showdown with a red-hot Chicago run game.
Reed Returns to a Crowded but Promising WR Room
Reed hasn’t suited up since Week 2, when he broke his collarbone against the Commanders. And that wasn’t the only setback - he also underwent foot surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury. It’s been a long road back, but the Packers have been eyeing a December return for weeks, and now it’s finally here.
The timing couldn’t be better. With Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, and rookie Matthew Golden already in the mix, Reed adds another dynamic option to a receiving corps that’s quietly developing into one of the more intriguing young units in the league.
Golden, the team’s first-round pick this spring, is also back in the lineup after missing time with a shoulder injury. He last played in Week 11.
Reed's versatility - his ability to line up inside or outside, stretch the field or work underneath - gives quarterback Jordan Love another weapon to exploit against a Bears secondary that’s had its share of ups and downs this season.
Walker’s Return Critical Against Bears’ Ground Game
While Reed’s return is big for the offense, Quay Walker’s impact on defense might be even more significant - especially against a Bears team that’s been pounding the rock with authority.
Chicago enters the game with the top rushing attack in the NFC and the second-best in the entire league. Just last week, they racked up a jaw-dropping 281 rushing yards against the Eagles.
That’s not a fluke - it’s a trend. And it’s exactly why Walker’s return couldn’t come at a better time.
The Packers captain has been playing the best football of his career this season, and his sideline-to-sideline range is critical to slowing down a Bears offense that thrives on misdirection, read-options, and chunk plays on the ground. Beyond his physical tools, Walker is the heart of the Packers’ defensive communication - the guy who gets everyone lined up and in the right call before the snap.
That leadership becomes even more important with defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt now out for the season after suffering an ankle injury last week in Detroit. Without Wyatt anchoring the interior, the Packers will need Walker’s instincts and play recognition to help fill the gap, both literally and figuratively.
Secondary Gets a Boost, Too
It’s not just the front seven getting healthier. Green Bay’s secondary is trending in the right direction as well.
Slot corner Javon Bullard, who was questionable with an ankle injury and didn’t practice earlier in the week, is active and ready to go. That’s a big plus for a defense that relies on Bullard’s physicality and quick reaction time in the middle of the field.
Cornerback Nate Hobbs also returns after missing the last four games with a sprained MCL that required surgery. The free-agent addition adds depth and experience to a cornerback group that’s been tested by injuries all season.
Who’s Out for Green Bay
The Packers will be without defensive end Lukas Van Ness for the second straight game due to a foot injury. That’s a tough loss for a defensive line already down Wyatt, though recent signing Jordon Riley is active and could see some snaps up front.
Also inactive are defensive tackle Quinton Bohanna - claimed off waivers recently - rookie wide receiver Savion Williams (foot), offensive lineman Donovan Jennings, and defensive lineman Nazir Stackhouse.
Bears Dealing with Key Absence of Their Own
On the other sideline, the Bears will be without one of their top offensive weapons. Rookie standout Rome Odunze is out with a foot injury, a significant blow to a passing game that’s leaned on him heavily in recent weeks.
Also inactive for Chicago: quarterback Case Keenum, defensive back Tyrique Stevenson, defensive lineman Dominique Robinson, linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, and defensive lineman Jonathan Ford.
Bottom Line: The Packers are getting healthy at the right time, and they’ll need every bit of that firepower against a Bears team that’s found its identity on the ground. With Reed and Walker back in the fold, Green Bay has a chance to control both the tempo and the tone of this rivalry matchup - one that could have major implications down the stretch.