Green Bay’s offense took a gut punch in the first quarter against the New York Jets when Jayden Reed was carted off with a neck injury and ruled out for the game.
The Packers wide receiver needed a spine board to leave the field after the scary-looking injury, turning an already tense moment into an alarming one for Green Bay. Reed, who signed a three-year, $50.25 million extension with the team this offseason, was expected to be a major part of the passing game.
That makes the timing especially tough for the Packers. Reed already missed 10 games in the 2025 season, and now there’s real concern he could be sidelined for a significant stretch of the 2026 season as well. For Green Bay, the biggest issue isn’t just losing a playmaker - it’s the uncertainty that comes with a neck injury.
Reed had been one of the team’s most reliable weapons over his first two seasons. In 2023, he finished with 64 catches for 793 yards and eight touchdowns. In 2024, he posted 55 receptions for 857 yards and six scores.
With Reed out, the Packers will have to lean harder on Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, and Tucker Kraft, while also asking more from the rest of the receiver group. Skyy Moore, Bo Melton, and J. Michael Sturdivant are next in line, and Green Bay will need at least one of them to take on a meaningful role in the passing attack.
Watson already flashed in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, going for six catches, 147 yards, and two touchdowns. Golden also drew 12 targets and turned them into six receptions for 95 yards.
The passing game had life when Jordan Love had a clean pocket, but he spent much of that opener under pressure. That could become a familiar problem here, especially after star right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele also went down with a knee injury in the first quarter.
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