EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed has movement in his extremities after injuring his neck early against the New York Jets and being taken to a hospital Sunday.
Coach Matt LaFleur said after the game that Reed would remain in the hospital in New Jersey overnight for observation and won’t travel back home with the Packers. The team said there would be no further update on the injury Sunday night or a potential timetable for Reed’s return to playing.
“Doing much better,” Reed wrote on X after the game. “Appreciate all the prayers and support.”
Reed was injured on the first of consecutive plays on the opening drive of Green Bay’s 20-17 overtime win during which Packers players needed to be carted off the field. Right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele went out with a knee injury and didn’t return.
“That was obviously a very scary deal,” LaFleur said, “any time you see anybody down on the field and have to get carted off.”
On the Packers’ second offensive play, Reed caught a short pass from Jordan Love and was hit hard by Demario Davis, whose left shoulder pad appeared to hit the receiver flush in the helmet, after a 4-yard gain. The Packers wide receiver went down quickly and was face down on the turf and writhing in pain.
Packers trainers and medical personnel immediately rushed onto the field to check on Reed, who was turned over onto his back. After a few minutes, Reed was strapped on a back board and loaded onto the cart as the entire Packers sideline surrounded him — many of them on a knee and praying. Several Jets defensive players, including Davis, also remained near Reed.
The 26-year-old Reed is in his fourth NFL season after being a second-round draft pick out of Michigan State in 2023.
“Obviously praying everything went good with everything at the hospital,” said wide receiver Christian Watson, whose locker is next to Reed’s. “As far as I’ve heard, it’s positive news so far. I’m just keeping him in my thoughts and prayers. I never want to see that for anybody on that field, but especially someone that I consider a brother to myself.
“I spend more time with J-Reed than I do my family. That’s my dawg.”
After a delay of several minutes, play resumed and Love threw an incompletion on third down. But Bako-Bewele, who was blocking Jets rookie pass rusher David Bailey, was down and punching the turf.
The medical staff came out again — along with the entire Packers sideline — and Bako-Bewele was helped onto a cart. He was sitting up, slapped hands with teammates wishing him well and waved as he was driven inside the stadium.
“That doesn’t look good, either, as far as, you know, I think he could be out for a long time,” LaFleur said.
Anthony Belton replaced Bako-Bewele at right tackle.
“It’s terrible,” center Sean Rhyan said. “You never want to see the stretcher come out and you never want to see the cart come out. It humanizes the game a little bit. We’re still humans outside of the helmets and stuff, so you never want to see the opponent or your teammate or your brother laying there getting lifted out.”
Packers guard Aaron Banks (toe) and his replacement Donovan Jennings (hand) also were injured in the game, as was defensive tackle Anthony Campbell (ankle).
Jets linebackers Marcelino McCrary-Ball (ankle) and Kiko Mauigoa (quadriceps) and defensive lineman David Onyemata (groin) were all ruled out after halftime. Tight end Mason Taylor injured a thumb in the fourth quarter and wide receiver Arian Smith injured a knee late.
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Dennis Waszak Jr., The Associated Press
