Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed continues to find ways to help his team win football games. With one game left in the regular season, the Packers have their playoff destiny in their own hands. One reason for this has been the strong and gutsy play of Reed.
Packers WR Jayden Reed Was Needed Badly in Minnesota
Reed entered the Packers Week 17 game in Minnesota nursing chest and toe injuries that caused him to miss the team’s win over Carolina, the first game he’s missed all season.
With Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks unavailable due to injuries of their own, it became even more important for Reed to be ready to play against the Vikings.
He came through for the team, catching six passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns. The two scoring plays were both impressive. The first was a perfectly executed post pattern from 33-yards out for a score. Reed used his speed to beat the coverage and find open space in the end zone.
Then, late in the first half, Reed came through again, catching a 25-yard scoring play from Jordan Love. The pass itself went only three yards downfield. Reed broke a tackle shortly after catching the ball and then ran towards the left sideline. He carried defensive back Josh Metellus on his back for the final eight yards to score the touchdown that gave the Pack a commanding 23-3 lead at the half.
“I seen a guy outside,” Reed said. “He didn’t seem like he wanted to come up and tackle. A guy inside. I just lowered my pads. Anytime the ball is in my hands I’m thinking of scoring.”
All Reed’s catches came in the first half. He missed most of the second half after aggravating his chest injury. Reed apparently wanted to return but was not allowed to go back into the game.
The Coaching Staff Appreciates What Jayden Reed Does for the Packers Offense
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur appreciates what Reed has accomplished this season. “He’s battling all season, just fighting through,” LaFleur said after the win in Minnesota. “He’s had a lot of pain, let’s just put it that way. For him to be out there and put on a performance like that was huge, coming away with two touchdowns and just seeing how this guy, how gritty he is. I mean, he’s as tough as they come.”
Despite missing one game, Reed now has 60 catches for 681 yards and eight receiving touchdowns. That is the most catches any rookie receiver has had in Packers history. The old record was held by Sterling Sharpe who caught 55 passes for 791 yards and one touchdown back in 1988.
Sharpe went on to have an outstanding career, earning Pro Bowl berths five times and being named All Pro three times in his seven-year pro career. Unfortunately, Sharpe was forced to retire at 29 due to neck injuries.
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