The Green Bay Packers moved one step closer to a playoff berth this season after a solid blowout win against the Minnesota Vikings to close out Week 17. The team won handily, 33-10, and WR Jayden Reed was crucial to this win. Reed caught six of his eight targets for 89 yards and two TDs. He was the WR4 on the week.
Latest Injury Update on Jayden Reed
Halfway through the game, the camera caught Reed on the sideline grimacing and grabbing his midsection. Reed was pulled and ruled out in the second half due to a chest injury he aggravated while taking a hit. After the game, the team’s medical staff took Reed into the locker room to run various tests on him, including a CT scan.
Will Reed Play This Week?
The Packers are very much in the heat of the playoff hunt — all they have to do to make the playoffs is beat the Chicago Bears in Week 18 of the regular season. This being said, having Reed available will be a point of concern heading into practice this week. Head coach Matt LaFleur is unsure of Reed’s status.
“Matter of fact, I’m not quite sure where we’re at with him. They took him for some tests and CT and scans and all that. We’re hopeful; hopefully, he’ll be alright for next week. I know if there’s anybody who can get through it, it’s him.”
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Ian Rapoport clarified Reed’s situation on Monday, stating that he “will have further tests on his ribs [on Monday] after negative X-rays.” Rapoport added it is “safe to say his status for Week 18 is in doubt.”
Reed has been battling chest issues since Week 12. LaFleur talked about it on Sunday, saying, “He’s been battling all season. He’s had a lot of pain, let’s just put it that way. And for him to go out there and put on a performance like that [against the Vikings], I thought was huge, coming away with two touchdowns. And just seeing this guy, how gritty he is, he’s as tough as they come.”
What Does This Mean for Reed’s Fantasy Ranking?
Even though the coaching staff seems adamant about Reed’s ability to push through, if he has trouble practicing this week, that will drop him down the rankings. Other options for Green Bay would be Romeo Doubs, who has managed to avoid the injury bug, and Dontayvion Wicks, who is battling with a chest/ankle issue that kept him out of last week’s contest.
Doubs was relatively quiet on Sunday, catching three passes for 28 yards, but if Reed is out in Week 18, he would no doubt need to step up. I would also expect Green Bay to continue to lean more on the running game after Aaron Jones logged another game over 100 yards against Minnesota.
Reed is WR22 in PFN’s Consensus Rankings.
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