Well, the Green Bay Packers’ performance on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings was interesting. It was a tale of two halves. The Packers couldn’t get out of their own way during the first 30 minutes, and either side of the ball looked markedly better in the second half.
However, Jayden Reed put together a complete game.
Green Bay’s leading receiver from a year ago was arguably the best player on the field for either team. The second-year man out of Michigan State caught seven of his eight targets for a career-high 139 yards, averaging 19.9 yards per catch. Reed finished the game with the most targets and yards for the Packers, establishing himself as their volume and big-play guy, all in one 5’11” package.
Reed was also responsible for finally getting the Packers on the board at the end of the first half, helping to stop the bleeding and gain momentum heading into halftime. Surprisingly, the Packers left Josh Jacobs on the sideline for longer than expected, opting to have him split series with Emanuel Wilson. Fellow wide receiver Christian Watson left early with what the team is calling a high ankle sprain. However, one thing became clear: The Packers need to run their offense through Jayden Reed every week.
Wide receivers Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs struggled to haul in Jordan Love’s slightly errant passes as he shook off some rust after missing two weeks. Reed had no such issues. He accounted for five of Green Bay’s 10 longest plays on Sunday, including the end-of-half touchdown where he made a leaping catch over Minnesota cornerback Byron Murphy Jr.
Reed is Green Bay’s offensive spark plug, delivering big plays when needed. On the game’s first drive, already down 7-0, Reed’s 24-yard catch helped move the Packers into field goal range. When the offense needs a spark, Reed has been the go-to playmaker.
Reed’s impact isn’t limited to the passing game. His ability to line up in the backfield opens up the offense in a way few other receivers can. Only two wide receivers in the NFL have rushed for over 200 yards since the start of 2023. One is Jayden Reed. The other is Deebo Samuel, who’s widely considered one of the best weapons in football. That’s good company for Green Bay’s rising star.
Reed possesses a skill set similar to Samuel and is crucial to what Green Bay wants to do offensively. Reed is a do-it-all weapon who can line up all over the field. In Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, Reed had 26 snaps in the slot, 10 snaps at outside receiver, and three snaps at running back.
He’s a chess piece that Matt LaFleur can confidently deploy at any level of the offense, which is invaluable. Reed has taken that second-year leap that so many young players struggle with. Therefore, giving him more responsibility shouldn’t be a concern for the Packers.
When Green Bay’s offense is at its best, they’re using misdirection and pre-snap motion to keep defenses guessing. Reed’s ability to sell his motion and pose a legitimate threat to take a jet sweep or handoff for a big gain – or better yet, a touchdown – as we saw against the Philadelphia Eagles, is a game-changer.
His burst of speed and ability to break through tacklers, as seen on his 33-yard run, is unmatched on the roster. He also made some history in that Eagles game. Reed became the first player since the 1970 merger to have a 70-yard touchdown catch and a 30-yard touchdown run in the same game. Opposing defenses must respect his big play threat whenever and wherever he is on the field.
Green Bay’s coaching staff also recognizes the need to get Reed the ball in any way they can.
“Anytime you’ve got a weapon like Jayden Reed, and you can move him around, give him the ball, or use him as bait,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich recently said, “it’s always fun to have guys like that.”
Indeed, it’s fun for the offense.
Even Reed’s teammates are impressed.
“It is crazy to see him because he’s got a lot of speed, man,” said Jacobs. “He’s got a lot of juice. I like seeing the ball in his hands and watching him create. Sometimes, I have to catch myself because I’ll be watching instead of blocking. … I think he’s going to be good.”
He’s good and will only get better the more he sees the ball.
Reed’s game-breaking speed becomes even more crucial now with Christian Watson sidelined. Wicks and Doubs are possession receivers. While Malik Heath is Green Bay’s best blocking WR, he is also more of a possession receiver. Still, none of them can match Reed’s unique skill set.
Bo Melton is another fast option who may see increased playing time with Watson out. However, neither he nor Reed offer what Reed does. With extra snaps available, Reed’s workload is sure to grow. He’s second among Green Bay’s receivers in snaps in 2024, with 182 total. After a slight dip in Weeks 2 and 3 (likely due to the limited passing game with Malik Willis at quarterback), his snap count was back up to 78% in Week 4 against the Vikings. Expect that number to keep rising.
The Green Bay Packers are as young, talented, and exciting an offense as you’ll find in the NFL, one that will only continue to grow and torment defenses for years to come. Few players are as exciting and must-watch as Jayden Reed, and defenses around the NFL must account for No. 11 in green and gold. For this team to reach its full potential and compete in a wide-open NFC, the offense needs to run through Jayden Reed.
