Jayden Reed (ankle) sits out practice on Sunday

Reed played 7-of-9 snaps on the first drive before calling it a night. He was in the slot for all seven snaps. Reed snagged a 19-yard pass via a post route from the slot on 3rd-and-5. He was targeted again on a corner route just outside the end zone on 3rd-and-4 from the Steelers’ 19-yar4d line, but the pass was broken up. Packers WR Matthew Golden led the first-team offense with nine snaps.

Although a potential, albeit brief, matchup against Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers is intriguing, the Packers’ wide receiver rotation is the real reason to tune in. Packers WR Christian Watson should be the team’s top target earner this season, and Love said WR Matthew Golden is set to assume X-receiver duties. Will slot WR Jayden Reed get to take snaps in two-receiver sets? That is to be determined.

We know this is getting into the weeds, but Reed’s weekly range of outcomes will be somewhat dependent on his access to heavy personnel packages. Through three NFL seasons, Reed has taken just 31 snaps in 12 personnel, so even a mild increase would boost his target-earning opportunities. Packers QB Jordan Love confirmed that second-year WR Matthew Golden is replacing WR Romeo Doubs as the X-receiver when speaking with the media today, so Golden and Watson (Z-receiver) will likely take the majority of 12 personnel reps this season. If Reed can at least send Golden to the sideline for a decent share of those opportunities, his fantasy managers would stand to benefit.

Reed did end up playing with the first-team offense, at one point snagging back-to-back completions from QB Jordan Love. Golden disappointed as a rookie last year, posting a 29.361/0 receiving line. Reed went 19/207/1, but played in only seven games due to injury. Golden, a first-round pick from 2025, is getting his chance to earn a role in two-wide receiver sets opposite WR1 Christian Watson. Returning reliable FLEX value is difficult if one is limited to the WR3/slot role. If Reed is unable to beat out Golden in training camp, we could be looking at another volatile season from Reed. Golden’s outlook is tough to forecast, but getting on the field in heavy personnel packages would be positive.

Reed’s deal includes $20 million in financial guarantees. His 2025 season was disrupted by a foot injury and a broken clavicle. Reed has not yet cracked the PPR WR2 ranks in season-long finishes, but he averages 2.01 yards per route run over the course of his three-year career. Reed turns 26 next week. It will be interesting to see whether the Packers bring aboard a rookie wide receiver later today. As things currently stand, Reed is set to man the slot and may be allowed to compete with second-year WR Matthew Golden for snaps out wide.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter breaks the news, adding that Wicks will now sign a one-year, $12.5 million extension with the Eagles. Over the last four weeks, they also signed WR Hollywood Brown and WR Elijah Moore as well. Schefter reminds us that if the Eagles were to trade away WR A.J. Brown, that would probably happen after June 1st, “when the cap burden would be more manageable for the Eagles.” As things currently stand, Wicks will likely compete for WR3 duties. The trade also leaves Packers WR Christian Watson, WR Jayden Reed and WR Matthew Golden as the team’s top-three options after allowing WR Romeo Doubs to sign with the Patriots last month. The Eagles tacked on an additional year to Wicks’ contract after the deal, tying him to the franchise through the 2027 season. The extension includes $12.5 million in maximum money with $9 million guaranteed.

Reed gave the Packers a 14-3 lead with an 18-yard connection with Jordan Love; one of four touchdowns for Love in the contest. He wasn’t a major factor after the trip to the end zone, and it ends a disappointing season for Green Bay and for Reed. He was limited to just seven games in the regular season, and after scoring in the opener, he didn’t find the end zone again until Saturday night. He has one more year left on his contract before becoming a free agent in 2027, and assuming Reed remains with Green Bay, he’s a pretty solid bounceback candidate for the coming campaign.

Reed would be on the FLEX radar, if active, but Packers head coach Matt LaFleur already told reporters that the team plans to rest some starters. We expect the starting slot receiver to be one of them. If active, he would likely play sparingly.

Reed picked up the overwhelming majority of the yards on a 30-yard pass from Malik Willis. The 25-year-old was second among Packers’ receivers in targets behind the six to Christian Watson, but he picked up just 11 yards on his other three receptions. Reed and the Packers will finish off the regular season against the Vikings in Week 18.

Were it not for a 31-yard reception made by Reed in overtime, the third-year receiver would have been looking at an even more underwhelming stat line. Reed saw just three targets in this one, which tied Luke Musgrave for third most on the team. Reed has gone for 35 or fewer yards in two of his three games since returning from injury in, and won’t profile as anything more than a WR4 win Week 17 against the Ravens.