The Green Bay Packers avoided a season-altering injury on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
They had listed Jayden Reed as questionable to return to the game after suffering an ankle injury during a punt return. He fumbled on the play, and the Cardinals recovered it. However, Arizona and Green Bay committed offsetting penalties that nullified the turnover, and they replayed the down.
Not only did the Packers avoid a turnover inside their own 35, but Reed also returned. He’s a player Green Bay’s offense cannot afford to lose under any circumstances.
Reed is tied with Dontayvion Wicks for the most receiving touchdowns on the team. He’s the only Packers wideout with at least a 70 offensive and receiving grade. Entering Week 6, Reed led all Green Bay receivers in yards after the catch with 180; Wicks was the next best with 39. He also leads the team in missed tackles forced, first downs, and yards per route run. Jordan Love’s passer rating when targeting Reed is 140.5, while no other receiver is above 95.8.
He entered Week 6 as a top-10 receiver in yards after catch and top five in yards per route run. Among wideouts with at least 25 targets, he leads the league in contested catch percentage and passer rating when targeted.
Reed is the only player in the league with at least 400 receiving yards and 100 rushing yards. Green Bay frequently uses him on end-arounds and jet sweeps, which makes him a threat even without the ball.
His pre-snap motion helps the offense identify defensive coverages. Among 33 non-running back or fullback rushers with at least eight attempts, Reed is the only wideout ranked in the top 20 for rushing grade and the only receiver in the top 10 for offensive grade. He’s also second in yards after contact among receivers, trailing only Deebo Samuel.
The Packers have filled their wide receiver room with talent, but they run the offense through Jayden Reed. He’s their best and most versatile playmaker, leading all receivers in touches for the 2024 season. Reed can contribute on special teams, but Green Bay has invested enough in that area to succeed without him.
Green Bay has the highest-paid special teams coordinator in the league, and a two-time First Team All-Pro kick returner in Keisean Nixon. That should be enough for them to avoid using Reed for punt returns. The Packers are paying $18 million for an inconsistent nickel corner, so using him for punt and kick returns might make sense.
Due to Nixon’s extended role in the defense, Reed has likely taken on punt return duties. However, the Packers have the personnel in the secondary to manage his absence. Javon Bullard and Xavier McKinney are playing at a high level. Bullard is Green Bay’s best run defender per PFF.
Evan Williams received the second-highest safety grade a week ago and forced a fumble against the Cardinals. While Carrington Valentine showed promise during his rookie year, he struggled with injuries in 2024. At this point, Green Bay’s defense can afford to lose Nixon more than the offense can afford to lose Reed.
It’s about time the coaching staff removes Reed from punt-return duties. There’s no reason for him to take unnecessary hits. He is a crucial piece of the offense. Green Bay will need him for the long haul, which includes a tough matchup against the 5-1 Houston Texans next week, who have one of the best defensive minds in the game in DeMeco Ryans.
