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Packers rookie Jayden Reed scores first career NFL touchdown for early 7-3 lead over Falcons

PeterWarrenPhoto2by:Peter Warren•09/17/23•

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Jayden Reed Packers
Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports

Green Bay Packers rookie wide receiver Jayden Reed scored the first touchdown of his career Sunday on an end-around shovel pass.

Reed went in motion prior to the snap on the 1st-and-Goal from the 9-yard line. Quarterback Jordan Love took the snap and tossed it forward to Reed, who ran around the right side for the touchdown.

NextGenStats had Reed reaching 20.54 mph on the touchdown, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.

Reed was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the No. 50 overall pick out of Michigan State. He had two catches on five targets for 48 yards with one rushing attempt in the team’s Week 1 victory over the Chicago Bears.

The former All-Big Ten second-team wideout also returns punts for the Packers this year, finishing Week 1 with three returns for 54 yards. He talked during the week about how he returns punts.

“It’s really just to let everybody get on their blocks and try to bring the punt team in a little bit,” Reed said during the week. “Pause them, draw them more to me so I can make my decision, whether I hit it vertical, if I hit it around the outside. I just want to freeze the punt team a little bit. That’s really my plan with that. I want to freeze them a little bit to create more space for me.”

Jayden Reed scores first touchdown of career in second game

Jayden Reed is the first rookie on the Packers to score the first touchdown of his career this season.

He was the Packers third pick in the draft after linebacker Lukas Van Ness and tight end Luke Musgrave.

Heading into the draft, NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein highlighted some of his strengths as being agile after the catch and being able to reach his top speed quickly.

“Utility wideout with the ability to take snaps at multiple receiver positions while offering both kickoff and punt return talent,” Zierlein said. “Reed looks smaller in many of his matchups, but he is rarely deterred by size. He’s too tight-hipped for stop-start routes on the tree, but he operates with good route speed and should improve his ability to separate with additional development and experience on the next level. His ball skills and feel for positioning on deep throws and jump balls are unquestioned. Limiting his focus drops on short and intermediate throws will be critical to becoming a long-term NFL contributor.”