No. 13

The Green Bay Packers were arguably the most disappointing team in football last year. And perhaps no one did less with more than Packers’ coach Matt LaFleur.

Green Bay headed into the 2025 season with one of the NFL’s top rosters, then traded for star defensive end Micah Parsons 10 days before the year began. Suddenly, Packer Nation was dreaming of their first Super Bowl appearance since 2010.

Instead, Green Bay went a remarkably unsatisfying 9-8-1 overall and was the NFC’s No. 7 seed for a third consecutive year. The Packers then blew a 21-3 halftime lead in the Wild Card round against Chicago, gave up 25 fourth quarter points and eventually suffered a shocking 31-27 loss to the arch-rival Bears.

“No way you should lose games in this league when you’re up that much,” running back Josh Jacobs said.

Green Bay, which began the year 9-3-1, finished the season with five straight losses. The Packers now enter 2026 with the league’s fourth-longest losing streak.

Collapsing late in games was the story of Green Bay’s 2025 campaign.

Green Bay had double digit leads in the final minutes twice against Chicago and also vs. Cleveland and somehow went 0-3 in those games. The Packers’ odds of losing all three contests were 1-in-250,000, yet they somehow did it.

“That (expletive), it’s starting to get damn-near embarrassing,” safety Javon Bullard said.

Rebounding won’t be easy as the Packers were hit hard in free agency and didn’t have a first round draft pick.

Green Bay’s first training camp practice is July 29. Between now and then I will count down the ‘30 Most Important Packers’ heading into the 2026 campaign.

At No. 13 is wide receiver Jayden Reed.

Jayden Reed, WR

Last season

Reed had a frustrating 2025 season, spending 2 ½ months on the injured reserve list with a shoulder injury. Reed then had a critical drop when the Packers were trying to rally late in their 31-27 playoff loss to Chicago.

“That’s all me man,” Reed said that night. “I’ve got to make that catch, you know. If I want to be that guy for this team I’ve got to make the catch. Who knows? I could have broke out and scored. At critical moments I have to be at my best. So I take that. That’s blame on me.”

Reed played just seven games and finished with career lows in catches (19), yards (207) and touchdowns (one).

Despite a tough season, the Packers signed Reed to a three-year, $50.25 million contract extension on April 24.

Career to date

Reed, a 2023 second round draft pick, led the Packers in receptions each of his first two seasons.

As a rookie in 2023, Reed led Green Bay in catches (64) and broke the single-season receptions record by a Packers rookie previously held by Sterling Sharpe (55). Reed also led Green Bay in receiving yards (793) and tied for the team lead with eight touchdown catches that season.

In addition, the Packers used Reed regularly on reverses and sweeps, and he finished the year with 119 rushing yards and two rushing TDs, despite battling a bevy of injuries.

Reed’s 10 total touchdowns in 2023 ranks No. 3 in franchise history among rookies behind only receiver Billy Howton (13 in 1952) and running back Eddie Lacy (11 in 2013).

In 2024, Reed led the Packers in receptions (55) for a second straight year and had a team-best 857 receiving yards. His six touchdown receptions ranked second on the team.

Reed also became the only receiver in team history to post 900-plus yards from scrimmage in each of his first two seasons.

Despite being the Packers’ top option in the passing game, there were seven games in 2024 where Reed had two catches, or fewer. Reed’s receptions and touchdowns also dipped from his 2023 numbers.

“I think that we could have done better from a staff perspective of trying to put him in some more advantageous situations where he could have produced those numbers, because he’s an explosive player and he’s one of those guys that you want to get the ball to, no doubt about it,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Reed after the 2024 season.

Outlook

Reed is the only player in NFL history to post 750-plus receiving yards, 55-plus receptions, six-plus receiving TDs, 100-plus rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in each of his first two NFL seasons (2023-24). He’s also one of just three players to hit those marks in back-to-back seasons, joining wideout Bobby Mitchell (1966-67) and running back Marshall Faulk (2000-01).

Among wide receivers with 100-plus targets, Reed also ranks No. 1 in the NFL since 2023 in passer rating when targeted (126.8).

Reed, fully healthy again after a frustrating 2025, should return to form in 2026.

Just 26, Reed is quick, feisty and a tough matchup from the slot. With receivers like Romeo Doubs (free agency) and Dontayvion Wicks (trade) gone, Reed could be poised for his best season as a Packer.

They said it …

“That was literally the first year of my career where I missed that many games. I’ve never missed, I want to say, more than maybe three games in a season ever. So, it was a really hard season for me, man. I faced a lot of up and downs, like mentally. Just going through that process, I never faced it, so I was just trying to figure myself out and how to get out of that space, mentally and physically. It was a very hard time for me. So, I’m just happy I got through it and I got another chance at it. So, I’m blessed to be here today and just get another shot, basically.” — Green Bay wideout Jayden Reed on a frustrating 2025

“That’s big time. I think you talk about a guy that’s a culture setter and the epitome of what we want representing our football in regards to just how he prepares and how he goes out there and plays. He never takes a play off, and you’re always going to get his best. I think one thing that’s unique about him is just his ability to bring others with him. I think he’s a real leader for us.” — Packers coach Matt LaFleur after Reed signed his contract extension

“He helps us win. He’s one of those guys. He’s a winning football player. Obviously he missed some time last year, but when he’s on the field we’re a better football team. There’s no doubt about it.” — Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst on Reed