Paul Bretl | 10/1/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Do the Packers need a No. 1 wide receiver? That was the question head coach Matt LaFleur heard often this offseason, so much so that, as LaFleur put it, he wanted to vomit when asked.
There’s pros to having that go-to option in the passing game in key moments just like there are pros to having the depth that the Packers have at the receiver position. But that’s a conversation for another day.
Within a Packers’ offense that is loaded with talent, second-year wide receiver Jayden Reed has oftentimes been the spark for this unit, the big play producer, and he’s doing it while tasked with handling a variety of responsibilities in the LaFleur offense.
“He’s a threat with the ball in his hands,” said Josh Jacobs. “He’s one of them guys that can make plays when he gets the opportunity. For him, it’s hard to defend because if you get him in space, he can make guys miss and he has the speed to take it off the top.”
Through four games, Reed has caught 17 of his 22 targets for 336 yards at a whopping 19.8 yards per catch with two touchdowns. He currently ranks fifth among all receivers in yards, he’s third in yards per catch, and first in YAC per reception.
Of those 336 total yards, 277 of them have come in Weeks 1 and 4 with Jordan Love at quarterback. In those two games specifically, Reed has been the most productive receiver in football, ranking first in receiving yards and yards per catch at an insane 25.2 yards.
“I think you’ve seen throughout his year-plus of him being here that when he gets the ball in his hands, he can do some pretty special things,” said Adam Stenavich. “So that’s something as a defense you have to know where he’s at at all times, I’m sure. And yeah, I like getting him the ball. It’s fun to watch him run around and make plays and stuff, so yeah, he’s a fun player. I’m glad we got him.”
All of that on its own is impressive, but Reed’s impact goes beyond just the passing game. He’s carried the ball six times this season and averaged 15.2 yards per carry, which includes a 33-yard touchdown run against Philadelphia. Of those six carries, four have gone for at least 15 yards–not to mention the blocking help he’s provided in two run-heavy games for the Green Bay offense.
Even before the snap of the ball, Reed is leaving his mark on the game, lining up out wide and in the backfield in addition to his primary slot duties and has been utilized as a motion man often, forcing the defenders to move and adjust pre-snap, along with potentially tipping their hand when it comes to certain responsibilities.
Sometimes, this is done to put Reed in a more advantageous situation. And other times, like a magician, it’s to get the defense looking one way, when they should be looking the other.
“Anytime you’ve got a weapon like Jayden Reed and you can move him around and give him the ball or use him as bait, it’s always fun to have guys like that, for sure,” added Stenavich.
Reed has quickly gone from a rookie who put together a really nice first season in the NFL to someone that opponents have to game-plan for and know where he is at all times.
“He’s an explosive player, competitive, a winner,” said passing game coordinator Jason Vrable. “He has all the traits that defenses for sure see. I think it was after the (Eagles) game Chauncey (Gardner-Johnson) came up to him and I was standing there just shaking hands after Philly and he said hey, for a young player man, you’re a dude. He was like you’re a winner, you’re competitive, and when you hear those compliments from other defenses, they know.”
We’ve often heard members of the Packers receiver room say, “The ball finds good energy.” For Reed, the energy that we see on Sundays that’s turning into high level production is a mentality that he always has. Whether on the field or off, regardless of what he’s being asked to do, Reed sets the tone with the positive juice he brings day in and day out.
“I love the energy he brings,” said Matt LaFleur on Monday. “And it’s not just on gameday, it is every day. We’re lucky to have a guy like that. He’s a tone-setter. He really is. I love how he competes and how he prepares for each and every battle and then he goes out and I think it’s probably why he performs pretty well.
“Because he’s pretty consistent in his approach and does all the little things the right way. He does a great job of taking care of himself, he knows the plan inside and out, and then given the opportunities in games, he’s making big-time plays.”