Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK

Injury opens door for rookie WR to claim starting role for Packers

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Glenn Kaplan | Last updated 8/31/23

The Green Bay Packers had practice on Wednesday, and wide receiver Romeo Doubs was a no-show with his hamstring injury. That potentially opens the door for Jayden Reed to start in Week 1.

Doubs missed last Saturday’s preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks with that injury, and the more time he misses practice, the more likely he will miss Week 1 on the road against the Chicago Bears.

Doubs was projected to be the No. 2 wide receiver for the Packers, but Reed getting more reps during practice with the first team is only going to help his cause. Reed was a second-round pick out of Michigan State and is currently the WR2 on the roster behind Christian Watson with the injury.

Doubs had a great preseason, and it would be a shame if his injury were the reason why Reed took over on the depth chart eventually. Doubs has been picked by outsiders to be a breakout wide receiver this season for the Packers. If that doesn’t happen, Reed could be the one who breaks out for this offense instead.

If Doubs misses the first week of the regular season, and it appears more likely it will happen, then Reed will most likely start alongside Watson. Reed will probably see some targets in that game, and if he has a nice game that day, then Doubs will have to earn his way to the field as he did during the preseason.

Head coach Matt LaFleur and the Packers will have a better idea by next Wednesday if Doubs will be available or not. That’s when the injury reports will start to come out for Week 1 of the 2023 NFL regular season. This story is developing, and we will see if Doubs is good to go by next week. If not, Reed is a name to watch out for.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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