Jayden Reed exits early with shoulder injury in Packers-Commanders game
Green Bay ruled its top receiver out after he landed hard on his right shoulder on a negated end-zone catch; Reed had previously dislocated the same shoulder and is playing through a left-foot fracture.
Jayden Reed was ruled out in the middle of Thursday night’s game against the Washington Commanders after suffering a right-shoulder injury while attempting a deep catch in the end zone, the Green Bay Packers announced.
The play occurred early in the first quarter when Reed, 25, reeled in a deep pass in the end zone only for the reception to be wiped out by a penalty. He fell hard onto his right shoulder and was slow to get to his feet. The team initially listed his status as questionable before officially ruling him out shortly before the start of the third quarter.
Reed’s exit renewed concerns because he previously dislocated the same right shoulder during the Packers’ wild-card loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last season. He avoided surgery after that injury and reported a full recovery in time for offseason workouts and OTAs this summer.
The Michigan State product also has been playing through a Jones fracture in his left foot that he sustained during practice in August. Reed opted against surgery on the foot and took roughly three weeks off from practice. He said at the time that he did not feel fully healthy heading into Week 1 but would “work through it.”
Reed had three catches, including a touchdown, in Green Bay’s Week 1 victory over the Detroit Lions. The 2023 second-round pick led the Packers’ receiving corps last season with 857 yards and six touchdowns while appearing in all 17 regular-season games.
Green Bay announced only that Reed was ruled out; the team did not provide an immediate timetable for further testing or potential return. Reed had told reporters in August that he was ‘‘working through’’ lingering issues and was trusting the medical protocol as he attempted to remain available for the start of the season.
The Packers face decisions about their receiving depth if Reed’s injury keeps him sidelined, but the team’s official injury updates and any imaging results were not released immediately after Thursday’s game. Reed’s status will be followed through the team’s usual medical and reporting channels in the coming days as officials determine the extent of the shoulder damage and next steps for treatment and recovery.