Packer wide receiver Jayden Reed to undergo further testing after early exit vs Vikings

The Green Bay Packers are awaiting further testing on wide receiver Jayden Reed after the rookie suffered a rib injury on Sunday. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Reed’s initial X-rays were negative but he will undergo more testing on Monday to determine the severity of his injury. He is “pretty sore,” per Rapoport, which puts his status for Week 18 in jeopardy.

After taking down the Vikings 33-10, the Packers now move on to face the Chicago Bears in the final week of the 2023 regular season. Prior to his injury, Reed had six catches for 89 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win over Minnesota.

The rookie out of Michigan State ranked second on the team with 54 catches for 592 yards and six touchdowns entering Sunday’s contest. He has been dealing with a chest injury over the past few weeks.

Reed helped get the Packers off to a hot start by scoring the first touchdown of the game on a 33-yard pass from Jordan Love. His second of the day came in the second quarter and went for 25 yards. Green Bay jumped out to a 30-3 lead before Minnesota managed its first touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter.

The Packers drafted Reed with the No. 50 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He had two catches on five targets for 48 yards with one rushing attempt in the team’s first victory of the year of the Bears, which came in Week 1. Undoubtedly, the Green Bay Packers would love to have the rookie available when they take on Chicago again to end the season.

Banged up Packers take down Minnesota Vikings

Jayden Reed wasn’t the only Packers player to suffer an injury Sunday. Linebacker Preston Smith also left the game before later returning, while running back AJ Dillon exited and was questionable to return with a stinger.

Green Bay was already without a pair of wide receivers prior to the injury to Reed. Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks, the No. 3 and No. 4 receivers on the team, were both ruled out prior to the game.

In total, they have combined for 61 catches for 942 yards and seven touchdowns, both of which have come from Watson. Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, who ranks fifth in tackles on the defense with 67, also missed the contest.

On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.