Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed could return from injured reserve as soon as Week 13 against the Detroit Lions or Week 14 against the Chicago Bears, according to a report from Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Reed, who has missed the last six games, suffered a foot injury in training camp and then broke his collarbone while attempting to make a catch against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 11. He required surgery to repair both injuries. Per Silverstein, the foot injury is already fully healed, and now Reed and the Packers are waiting on the collarbone to finish healing. The waiting game requires MRIs to see how the bone is healing and when it is healed enough to play.
Reed caught three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown over 23 snaps before his injury.
The Packers face the Lions at Ford Field on Thanksgiving Day and then host the Bears at Lambeau Field after the mini-bye on Dec. 7.
Reed led the team in receiving yards in both 2023 and 2024. His return can’t come soon enough after the Packers lost tight end Tucker Kraft — the team’s best yards-after-catch weapon — to a season-ending knee injury last week. Reed isn’t the same type of player as Kraft, but he does bring legitimate speed and tackle-breaking/yards-after-catch ability from the slot.
While the Packers will be without two of their best weapons for at least the next three weeks, there’s a chance Reed will return and be available over the final 5-6 games of the regular season, possibly providing a spark to the passing game during the playoff run.