Green Bay Packers Jayden Reed Makes Cryptic Post On Social Media; Return Imminent?
The Green Bay Packers offense may be on the verge of receiving a significant boost. Star wide receiver Jayden Reed, who has been sidelined since Week 2, has sparked speculation about his imminent return with a cryptic post on social media. The post, an image of himself in full uniform walking down the tunnel, has given fans hope that their top offensive weapon is nearing a comeback.
Reed has not played since suffering a broken collarbone during the team’s victory over the Washington Commanders. The injury required surgery, which was performed along with another procedure to address a lingering foot issue that had plagued him. His absence has been deeply felt by a Packers offense struggling to find consistent playmakers.
Reed’s Potential Return Could Reignite Green Bay Packers’ Offense
The timing of Reed’s post is noteworthy, coming just after head coach Matt LaFleur’s optimistic comments regarding injured players. When asked on Monday if any players might have their 21-day practice windows opened this week, LaFleur responded with a smile, saying, “I sure as heck hope so.” This, combined with Reed’s social media activity, strongly suggests that a return to the practice field is on the horizon.
Before his injury, Reed was the undisputed leader of Green Bay’s receiving corps. Over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, no Packers player accumulated more receptions (119), receiving yards (1,650), or receiving touchdowns (14). His ability to create yards after the catch has been particularly missed, especially following the season-ending injury to tight end Tucker Kraft. In 2023, Reed led the team in YAC, showcasing his dynamic playmaking ability.
What His Return Means for the Packers
Getting Reed back on the field could transform Green Bay’s passing attack. His presence commands attention from opposing defenses, which would help open up opportunities for other receivers and create more favorable matchups for the running game. Before injuries slowed him down last season, Reed was on an impressive pace, recording 38 catches for 643 yards and four touchdowns in the first 10 games.
While an exact return date for game action remains unclear, the opening of his practice window would be the first major step. The team will likely ease him back into the lineup, but having a healthy and refreshed Jayden Reed for the latter part of the season could be the spark the Packers need to make a strong push. His return seems closer than ever, and for a team in need of an offensive lift, it couldn’t come at a better time.
Mike Valenti Rips Lions WR Jameson Williams ‘He’s Not Bright’ and suggested the Lions can’t rely on him as a long-term offensive weapon
On Sunday Night Football, with the eyes of the NFL world looking on, Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams provided his team one of their most explosive plays on offense, hauling in a reception and scoring, outrunning Eagles defensive back Adoree Jackson to the end zone.
However, instead of his play on the bright stage, where he finished with 97 yards from scrimmage, the main topic of discussion for Williams has been his penalty immediately after the touchdown.
The former Lions’ first-round selection ran to the goalpost and jumped to embrace it with his arms and legs, which has been done before and been penalized, notably with former Steelers receiver Antonio Brown.
Mike Valenti, the host of the "Mike Valenti Show with Rico" on 97.1 The Ticket, was critical of Williams on Monday, and received considerable backlash. The host was brutal, ripping the receiver to shreds verbally.
“Jamo is an idiot,” Valenti stated in his viral clip. “Grow up.”
Valenti was sarcastically called a hater by co-host Rico Beard, and the former instantly rejected the notion.
“I’m not being a hater,” Valenti responded. “You can do anything you want in the endzone, short of produce a baby in the grass, don’t touch the goalposts. It’s the one no-no. Don’t go ‘Oh, the rule is stupid!’ So is speeding. But we have to abide.”
Beard expanded on Valenti’s metaphor, before taking some exception to Williams’ reaction to the penalty. Beard then expanded on his frustrations with how Williams acted, and asked what the end goal of that celebration was.
“You blow by a cop going 65, and he has to do his job,” Beard noted. “And then afterwards, you kinda got that look like ‘yeah, you know,’ laughing and giggling. Like, no, dude, you cost us a point that we may need in this game. You never had the lead because of that. Maybe, at 7-6, you force Philly into a different mindset. But now, it’s tied 6-6. You wanted all the smoke, you wanted all the attention. Congratulations, Jamo, did you get what you seek? At that point, what are you? An Instagram model? What were you doing? You cost your team a point, a valuable point that they needed. Come on, man, you got to be better than that.”
Valenti indicated he was not a fan of a player that hurt the team due to his poor decision-making.
“He’s just not bright,” Valenti expressed, “Flow chart. Not bright, you can just say it. Not everybody’s meant to build rockets, okay? He’s not a smart guy. It is what it is, there’s a behavioral pattern, and it sucks, because that very play is every reason why I wanted his role increased, but it is also the part where I go ‘damn it, you hurt us.’ This was not some 38-35 Big 12 shootout. You knew early on how this game was going to go.”
On Tuesday, after some backlash, the 97.1 host was back to defend his words and expand on his comments. After talking about the initial backlash, he posed a question to his listeners and Detroit sports fans, speaking on the differences in treatment that Williams gets compared to Tigers’ ace pitcher Tarik Skubal and Pistons’ star Cade Cunningham. Valenti dove into an objective view of what the play did to hurt the Lions’ hopes, and what could have been different in the Sunday Night Football game.
“I want to ask a question to people: ‘why do you react this way, with this player?’ Jamo has been afforded a protected status that Cade Cunningham doesn’t have, Tarik Skubal doesn’t have… Meanwhile, Jamo, these are facts, that I am about to give you, factually. He made a great play. Facts. He had a stupid celebration. Fact. He drew a totally legitimate penalty. Fact. That penalty moved the extra point from a 33-yarder to a 48-yarder in 30-to-40 mile an hour winds. Fact. This penalty made that extra point more difficult. Fact. That extra point being missed matters, game script. Because when you’re up 7-6, and the Eagles score to go up, they’re sitting on 12, maybe they go for two, to get to 14-7. If you get that stop (on the two-point attempt), maybe field goals look different,” Valenti pointed out.
Valenti then ended his analysis to re-iterate his most inflammatory comment, his questions on Williams’ intelligence. The radio host also addressed the criticism of the show, and re-posed his question about Williams’ special treatment.
“It’s an idiotic penalty, and I am sorry, I just do not think Jamo is that bright of a guy,” Valenti said. “Made a ton of bad decisions, he continues to make bad decisions, and he continues to do the whole late-night thing, and it’s like ‘okay, no big deal, I just thought it was very simple.’ The reaction is ‘these two again, it didn’t cost us anything, you’re haters,’” Valenti said of the criticism to his takes on the Alabama product. “By the way, the segment and Youtube video, I said that I want his role to be bigger, that that play is everything right about Jamo and wrong all in one? What is it about this player and any commentary of him that triggers you?”
