Matt LaFleur says it’s ‘way too early’ to tell if Jayden Reed can return

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GREEN BAY – Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur met with the media two days away from his team’s home opener against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 24.  

LaFleur provided an update on Packers receiver Jayden Reed and how the offensive line must move forward without standout right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele, who is out for the year after he tore his patellar tendon during the Packers‘ opening drive of their 20-17 overtime win against the New York Jets.

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Here’s takeaways from LaFleur’s Sept. 22 press conference:

Matt LaFleur says it’s ‘way too early’ to tell if Jayden Reed will play this season

LaFleur said he spoke with Reed after the game and “he was in good spirits.”

LaFleur confirmed Reed is back in Green Bay and going through testing and consulting with doctors for the neck injury he suffered on the second play of the Packers’ Week 2 win over the Jets.

As far as if Reed will be able to play again this season, LaFleur said: “It’s way too early for that right now. He’s just got a lot. There’s a lot going on.”

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Jayden Reed, Zach Bako-Bewele injuries, see devastating moments from game

The Green Bay Packers suffered devastating injuries to two of their top offensive players in wide receiver Jayden Reed and offensive lineman Zach Bako-Bewele on consecutive plays in the first quarter of the team’s Week 2 game against the New York Jets on Sunday, Sept. 20.

Both had to be carted off for their injuries. Reed has a neck injury and Bako-Bewele has a knee injury.

See the moments the injuries happened in this gallery.

(Elsa, Getty Images)

Packers are juggling injuries, finding best options for offensive line

The Packers are still trying to figure out not only their best starting five offensive linemen, but also who will be available for the Falcons game on a short week.

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With Bako-Bewele out, LaFleur said Anthony Belton is the starting right tackle. Belton was limited during the team’s walkthrough practice with an elbow injury, but LaFleur anticipates Belton being available to play.

Left guard Aaron Banks left the game against the Jets with a toe injury and has been battling knee tendinitis. Banks didn’t participate in the team’s walkthrough.  

LaFleur said they will give Banks until game time.

Also, backup guard Donovan Jennins was a limited participant as he’s dealing with a hand injury he suffered in the Jets game.

“It’s like putting a puzzle together,” LaFleur said on figuring out how to find the best five players. “That’s the situation, and we’ve got to do the best that we can to go out there to play winning football. Nobody cares about the circumstance. It is the circumstance and you’ve got to work around it.”

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PACKERS INJURY REPORT: Four players absent for the Green Bay Packers’ Sept. 22 practice

Matthew Golden taking advantage of more targets

Packers receiver Matthew Golden had 44 targets for 361 yards and averaged 12.4 yards per catch in 14 games played in the 2025 regular season.

In the first two games of his second season, Golden already has 18 targets for 153 yards and is averaging 15.3 yards per catch.

The Packers’ top receivers going into the year were Golden, Reed and Christian Watson. With more opportunities for Golden, LaFleur has been pleased early on.

“I just see a guy that gets better with every opportunity,” LaFleur said. “We saw some things. He was our offensive player of the game.”

This article originally appeared on Packers News: Matt LaFleur says it’s ‘way too early’ to tell if Jayden Reed can return

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