The Green Bay Packers are placing wide receiver Jayden Reed on injured reserve on Wednesday, and coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Reed needs surgery on his injured neck and will miss the rest of the 2026 season.
"It will be season-ending. He will be out. He let me know, he has to have a surgery as well," LaFleur said Wednesday. "He will be out a significant amount of time."
LaFleur said it was his "understanding" that the injury would not be career-ending.
Reed was injured on the second play from scrimmage against the Jets. He took a hit to the crown of his helmet and crumbled to the field. Medical personnel had to stabilize Reed's head and neck on a backboard while carting him off the field, and he remained in the New York area for observation overnight
before returning to Green Bay.
On his official Instagram page, Reed captioned a photo "God will use the unusual to do the unexpected...11 out" in a post on Wednesday morning.
LaFleur said it's been "tough" on Reed since the injury. He called the neck injury a "pretty scary deal" and admitted it "shocked him" after seeing him on the field hurt against the Jets.
Reed signed a $50.5 million contract extension with the Packers this offseason.
"He will certainly be missed," LaFleur said.
Without Reed for the rest of the season, the Packers will go with Skyy Moore as an option in the slot and Bo Melton as a backup on the perimeter. Also, 2025 third-round pick Savion Williams can come off injured reserve beginning next week.
Reed's placement on injured reserve will open the roster spot required for the Packers to sign veteran offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers placing WR Jayden Reed on IR, will miss rest of 2026 season
