When the Green Bay Packers‘ star wide receiver Jayden Reed fell, screaming out of pain when he suffered an injury, it was not just a shoulder injury that made him scream. But it could be a result of helplessness of not playing for the next couple of weeks. The Packers wideout was in true pain after suffering a fractured collarbone on the right shoulder in the 27-18 win against the Washington Commanders.
Per Draft Sharks, during training camp, Reed sustained a Jones fracture in his left foot and sat out the preseason games. That’s why he might also be suffering from the pain of not playing for his team again. He was ready to play in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 8 and also delivered three catches on five targets while scoring a touchdown.
But in Week 2, where he was expecting to showcase his worth against the Commanders, Reed suffered a fracture in his collarbone while grabbing the pass in the first quarter from Jordan Love. Reed caught a 39-yard touchdown pass. The wide receiver landed badly on his right side, and then the Commanders’ safety landed on top of him, which might have made the injury worse. But right after this brutal update of the collarbone fracture, Reed sent a three-word message to the Packers and fans, indicating a comeback.
Jayden Reed’s Three-Word Comeback Message
On Sept. 11, when his shoulder injury was diagnosed with a fracture, Reed wrote three words on X (formerly known as Twitter): “I’ll be back.” However, we have bad news for Reed’s fans. According to doctors, Reed is supposed to miss two to three months as this is the expected time to recover.
NFL reporter Ian Rapoport also reported, “The hope is that it’s a 6-8 week injury for Jayden Reed, which would bring him back in November.” In his earlier reporting on X, @Rapsheet had also said, “#Packers WR Jayden Reed, ruled out tonight with a shoulder injury, has suffered a fractured collarbone, coach Matt LaFleur said. He’s headed for Injured Reserve and out for the foreseeable future. They do expect him back this season.” Matt LaFleur actually said the WR will miss “He is going to miss a lot of time”. Now, the Packers need to find a solid receiving end as the star is out for at least six to seven weeks.
What are the possible replacements for Jayden Reed?
With Jayden Reed sidelined, the Packers are expected to rely on a mix of 24-year-old Dontayvion Wicks, rookie Matthew Golden, and rookie wideout Savion Williams to fill the slot receiver role and keep the offense moving. Actually, Wicks benefited from Reed’s shoulder injury in 1st quarter. After Reed departed from the game, Wicks caught four passes covering 44 yards. He is expected to take the WR1 position in the absentee of Jayden Reed.
While none of them can fully replicate Reed’s versatility, covering combined skill sets could help bridge the gap until he returns. In addition, the offense should get a major boost later in the season when 26-year-old Christian Watson makes his way back to the field, giving Jordan Love another explosive weapon in the passing game.