The Packers Need to Get Jayden Reed More Involved in the Offense

The Green Bay Packers need to get wide receiver Jayden Reed more involved in the offense in the final four weeks of the regular season. Reed remains one of the team’s most dangerous offensive weapons, but in recent weeks, his role has been reduced. Last week against Detroit, Reed had only one target and did not catch a pass.

Early in the season, Reed was the most productive Packers receiver. He went over 100 yards receiving in two of the first four games of the season. The Packers were getting the ball to Reed in many different ways.

Reed was able to get open downfield for big gains. Head coach Matt LaFleur also designed plays for Reed. There were frequent passes to the former Michigan State star behind the line of scrimmage. Reed also carried the ball on jet sweeps and end arounds and was effective in that role. For the season, he’s gained 128 yards rushing on 13 carries, a healthy 9.8 yards per attempt.

Reed seemed to be the most reliable player for the Packers to turn to when they needed a big play. He has a catch percentage of 74.6 and is averaging 15.8-yards per catch despite the high number of passes he caught later in the season behind the line of scrimmage.

After a strong start to the season, things started to slow down for Reed. In the last four games, he caught eight total passes for 73 yards, an average of just 9.1-yards per catch.

After the Lions game, LaFleur admitted he needs to get Reed more involved in the offense. “Now where we can be better is, and I talked to Jayden about this, is just making sure that we have some of those plays for him in the game plan where he’s tagged to go in there and play wide out, because obviously, he’s a very impactful player,” LaFleur told reporters.

The Packers offense took a while to find its identity. Now, the primary weapon of the offense is running back Josh Jacobs. The passing game builds off the running game, rather than the other way around.

In the passing game, the Packers do not have a clear-cut number one receiver. A different player will get the most targets depending on the matchups, game situations and who is most effective during the course of a game. Through the first 13 games of the season, six different players have led or tied for the team lead in receptions in any given game. Reed has led the team or tied for the team lead more than any other player.

Reed proved his worth in 2023. He set a new Packers rookie record by catching 64 passes, breaking the old record of 55 set by Sterling Sharpe back in 1988. He led the team in catches and receiving yards and tied for the team lead with eight touchdown catches.

He impressed LaFleur with the way he handled himself. “He’s just a heck of a competitor,” LaFleur said of Reed after the 2023 season. “He’s helped us not only in the pass game obviously, but just getting the ball in his hands on reverses, arounds, whatever it may be, screens. I love how he competes, both in the run game and pass game. He’s made plays when given opportunities.”

Going forward, the Packers know they can’t ignore Reed and have to get him more involved in the offense. For the offense to reach it’s potential, it has to maximize its weapons and that includes Watson, Doubs, Reed, Kraft, and Jacobs.

We’ll see if Reed bounces back this week and in the other three games left in the regular season. The Packers will need him to be a bigger part of the offense down the stretch if they hope to realize their potential and compete with the biggest contenders in the NFC.