While it’s only Week 2 of the regular season, the Green Bay Packers have already made it clear they’re not to be taken lightly. The defense has been smothering, and early signs show that everything is clicking. That momentum carried into Thursday night, where the team broke a five-year curse.
“In past four days, Packers beat last year's NFC runnerup and NFC North champions by a combined score of 54-31. They open their season 2-0 for first time since 2020. A dominant start,” Packers beat writer Ryan Wood posted.
However, the win came with a setback. The Packers lost valuable wide receiver Jayden Reed during the game. While the injury will sideline him for an extended period, it’s not season-ending. In fact, this might be a blessing in disguise, allowing Reed to finally rest a lingering foot injury.
“The Packers have the WR depth to survive a Reed injury. Plus the early bye in there helps as well. It could provide a small blessing in disguise as it also allows his foot some likely valuable time to heel. Hopefully Reed can be closer to 100% for the stretch run,” Packer Report’s Andy Herman wrote.
Reed has been playing through a Jones fracture — a rare and serious injury that typically requires a long recovery process. While he had planned to manage it throughout the season, the shoulder injury now gives him a chance to rest both.
The fracture first came to light when Reed was seen wearing a walking boot during training camp. By the time he returns, he should be fully healed from both the shoulder injury and the foot fracture.
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While injuries are never ideal, this one could prove critical — not just for Reed’s long-term health, but for the Packers’ long-term vision this season. A fully healthy Reed down the stretch could be exactly what the team needs to maintain its dominant start.