GREEN BAY \u2014 Jayden Reed knew the answer to the trivia question right away. Christian Watson had to think for a second, then came to the same realization.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The answer: Zero.<\/p>\n
The question: For how many snaps did the Green Bay Packers offense have Reed, Watson and tight end Tucker Kraft on the field at the same time?<\/p>\n
That\u2019s right, thanks to each of their injuries \u2014 and the timing thereof \u2014 the Packers\u2019 most proven trio of pass catchers did not play a single, solitary snap together during the 2026 season.<\/p>\n
So while second-year wide receiver Matthew Golden, who caught 29 passes for 361 yards and no touchdowns as the team\u2019s rookie first-round pick last season, is on seemingly everybody\u2019s breakout-player-of-the-year list, the offense\u2019s production won\u2019t merely increase because the guy in the No. 0 jersey gets more targets and opportunities.<\/p>\n
Rather, having more proven commodities on the field simultaneously should be a game-changer for quarterback Jordan Love and the passing game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s on the film. I think you guys see what we can do all together,\u201d Reed said as the Packers continued their preparations for Sunday\u2019s regular-season opener against the rival Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. \u201cThat\u2019s huge, to have all of us together \u2014 plus \u2018MG\u2019 plus all the other playmakers we have.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we can be the best in the league, personally. We\u2019ve just got to put that all on display on Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Added Watson: \u201cI mean, it’ll be big time. Defenses are going to have to find a way to stop three \u2014 or four \u2014 guys. I mean, it’s going to be impossible to do on every play.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really just comes down to us making plays when our number\u2019s called and making defenses play stuff a little bit more true. I think it’s just going to make it harder on the defense to have four guys spread out across the field that can make a big play at any moment. So I’m excited for this group to be out there, and I think that the sky’s the limit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watson, having sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the 2024 regular-season finale, started the season on the physically unable to perform list and didn\u2019t make his debut until the seventh game of the season. He finished the year having caught 35 passes for 611 yards and six touchdowns on 55 targets in just 10 games.<\/p>\n
Reed, the team\u2019s leading receiver in each of his first two NFL seasons in 2023 and 2024, suffered a Jones fracture in his foot in training camp last summer but intended to play through it \u2014 and did, until breaking his collarbone in a Week 2 win over the Washington Commanders.<\/p>\n
He underwent surgeries to fix both fractures and missed the next 10 games before returning to action in the Packers\u2019 Dec. 7 win over the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. He finished the season with 19 receptions for 207 yards and one touchdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never had a season where I\u2019d been injured and missed a ton of games, so that was my first time having surgery. I had two surgeries,\u201d Reed said. \u201cSo it\u2019s just a blessing to get back out there. I\u2019m just grateful to be back to feeling great again and back out there with the guys. I\u2019m just excited.\u201d<\/p>\n
And Kraft, who was on pace for the first 1,000-yard season for a tight end in Packers history, went down with a torn ACL in his right knee during a Nov. 2 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Even though he missed the final 9 1\/2 games, Kraft finished the season with 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had to say goodbye to a couple guys [this offseason],\u201d Kraft said, referring to the departures of wide receiver Romeo Doubs (to New England via free agency) and Dontayvion Wicks (to Philadelphia in a trade). \u201cJ-Reed and Christian, they got upped and we\u2019re figuring out who the guys are on the offense to lean on. I would say now, hopefully, we\u2019re all sharing the football a lot less. That\u2019s my mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n
Based on how the Packers No. 1 offense lined up most frequently in training camp, they\u2019ll spend much of their time in \u201c11\u201d personnel \u2014 one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers.<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s unclear who the running back will be with Josh Jacobs uncertain status, head coach and offensive play-caller Matt LaFleur clearly intends for Kraft, Watson, Reed and Golden to see the most snaps and targets.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll those guys, I think really what it’s going to be is going to be more opportunity for everybody,\u201d LaFleur said. \u201cWe need them out there for as many plays as humanly possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting that in the one full game in which Watson and Kraft were both healthy, Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns (134.2 rating) while both Kraft (seven catches, 143 yards, two TDs) and Watson (four catches, 85 yards) had big games in a 35-25 win over Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.<\/p>\n
In that game, Love dropped back to throw 37 times and running backs Emanuel Wilson and Jacobs had a combined 24 rushing attempts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that the play-calling itself that game was an example of us just being able to pick a defense apart when we’re able to have obviously multiple outlets and wide receivers who can make plays,\u201d Watson said. \u201cObviously Tuck had a huge game that game. So, I think it’ll be exciting to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
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