GREEN BAY – It's not easy to replace a player, or person, quite like Jayden Reed.
A centerpiece of the Packers' offense, the 26-year-old receiver has been a standard-bearer inside one of the NFL's youngest locker rooms since he was drafted 3½ years ago.
It's why Green Bay signed Reed to an extension in April and also why it was so devastating for the team to watch the fourth-year receiver get carted off the field last month in New York.
Because he's the heartbeat.
While Reed fortunately has full range of motion and mobility, the Packers learned this week that the neck injury he suffered in Week 2 against the Jets will require season-ending surgery.
"Certainly, when I was out there with him, and just seeing what was going on, it shocks you," Head Coach Matt LaFleur said.
"It jolts you a little bit because you never want to see anyone in that position, let alone one of your own guys, a guy you have a lot of love for and brings so much to this organization, this football team, to the locker room. He's an energy guy. He will certainly be missed."
A second-round pick out of Michigan State in 2023, Reed was the Packers' leading receiver during his first two NFL seasons and looked primed to take another step in 2025 before breaking his collarbone last September against Washington.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound wideout returned for the stretch run, catching a touchdown in the Packers' wild-card playoff game in Chicago, prior to signing an extension before the draft.
With Reed locked in, Green Bay planned to structure its 2026 offense around the quartet of Reed, fifth-year wideout Christian Watson, 2025 first-round pick Matthew Golden and blossoming tight end Tucker Kraft. But now adjustments will be needed.
To overcome Reed's absence, the Packers will need each and every available skill-position player to power an offense that experienced an up-and-down September.
"We've just got to keep looking forward," Watson said. "Regardless of the outcome that we've had so far, in the grand scheme of things, everything that we want is still in front of us. The opportunities are still there, and we've got to find a way to rally around each other and just lift each other up."
Despite Reed's departure, Green Bay's receiving corps remains the linchpin for its offensive explosivity thanks to a room stocked with athleticism, speed and versatility.
Watson and Golden both rank in the top 10 for receiving yards this season. Watson currently leads the Packers with 17 catches for 284 yards and four touchdowns while Golden is already more than halfway to eclipsing his receptions, receiving yards and targets from his 14-game rookie campaign.
Complementing the pair are speedy veteran Bo Melton and offseason additions Skyy Moore and J. Michael Sturdivant, and all three bring something different to the offense.
What's more, former third-round pick Savion Williams (ankle) is eligible to practice next week after being placed on injured reserve with designation to return at the end of camp.
"We have a bunch of guys who have made plays, who continue to make plays," Melton said. "We trust and believe in ourselves regardless. We've done it before. It's nothing new. Even when J-Reed was here, guys were playing. Guys were still getting their opportunities. Your role might increase but we're always ready for that."
Moore seems like the most seamless plug-and-play option for Reed's role. The Packers not only signed the former second-round pick to stabilize their return units but also believed the 5-foot-10, 195-pound could be a Swiss Army knife on offense.
Prior to Reed's injury, Green Bay appeared to be toying with the idea of lining him up more in the backfield this season. The Packers inserted Moore into that spot last week against Atlanta and the 26-year-old wideout picked up 12 yards off a screen.
Moore credits Reed for helping him get up to speed on the playbook after he signed with Green Bay in March and is eager to help fill that void in any way possible.
"I would like to call myself a dynamic football player," said Moore, who has 396 all-purpose yards in three games. "You can line me up wherever – punts, kick returns, backfield, X. I just like to help my team."
Reed has been in good spirits during recent conversations with quarterback Jordan Love and his fellow wideouts. There also is hope that his neck injury won't be career-threatening, according to LaFleur.
The receivers view their role as two-fold now. They want to be there for their brother off the field while collectively stepping up in Reed's absence to help get the offense back into rhythm.
"The person he is, it's hard to replicate off the field how he is, but we know that he's gonna stay calling us," Melton said.
"He's gonna stay in the group chat. He's gonna be here. We're gonna be here for him the whole way. I know on the field, we got a bunch of guys who're gonna make plays. That's gonna come. Just missing J-Reed, the person he is, is gonna be something we gotta get used to."
