The Green Bay Packers had one more week before they had to make a decision to bring receiver Jayden Reed (shoulder/foot) up to the 53-man active roster, but the team elected to activate him from the injured reserve the day before they take on the Chicago Bears. On the injury report this week, Reed, who was a limited participant throughout the week, was listed by the team as questionable against the Bears. For what it’s worth, the staff had said in press conferences that Reed had not been fully cleared for return to games, but it’s possible that Reed cleared that hurdle since the pre-practice press conference on Friday.
Whenever Reed comes back, he’s expected to be the team’s starting slot receiver, a role he’s almost played exclusively since he was taken in the second round of the 2023 draft. In all likelihood, the receiver rotation will look like Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson starting on the outside, Reed primarily playing in the slot and Matthew Golden and Dontayvion Wicks rotating in at both outside and inside receiver.
To make room for Reed’s activation, the Packers released receiver Malik Heath, who has been with the team since 2023. Heath is generally ahead of Savion Williams on the depth chart at receiver, but Williams also contributes as a returner.
This is probably a good sign that one of Reed or Golden will be able to suit up against the Bears. Both were listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report this week, and Williams has already been ruled out with a foot injury.
Without Williams or Heath, if Reed or Golden couldn’t go, it would leave Green Bay with just Doubs, Watson, Wicks and part-time offensive player Bo Melton as receiver options against Chicago. Generally, the Packers like to have six receivers active on their 48-man gameday rosters.
