The Green Bay Packers’ offense imploded in the first three plays of their last game, losing two absolutely crucial players to injury. First, slot receiver Jayden Reed went down and had to be carted off the field on a backboard, a sight no fan ever wants to see. Immediately after that devastating play, starting right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele, who was already battling back from patellar tendon surgery, was also carted off, this time with an inflatable cast. When you see that inflatable cast, your gut just sinks, right? Because you know it usually screams “broken bone.” This wasn’t just a bad start; it was a catastrophic beginning that threw their entire offensive game plan into chaos.
The Double Whammy Hits Hard and Fast
Head coach Matt LaFleur, post-game, gave us some updates that are both a relief and a punch to the gut. On Reed, he said the receiver has feeling and movement in his extremities, which is fantastic news, but he’s staying overnight in New York/New Jersey for extra tests. And LaFleur didn’t sugarcoat it; go ahead and assume it’s going to be “a while” before we see Reed back on the field. That’s a huge blow. Their receiver rotation is tighter than a drum, with Skyy Moore being the full-time backup slot. Nobody else has been getting those reps, even dating back to preseason. So, unless their plan changes drastically, Moore is stepping into some massive shoes, full-time. Then there’s Bako-Bewele. LaFleur’s words were chilling: he “could be out for a long time.” His backup, Anthony Belton, stepped in for literally all but three snaps of that game. Belton has been the preferred backup since training camp, so he’s the guy now, and the pressure is on.
The Offensive Line Carnage Keeps Piling Up
Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, the offensive line took another beating. Left guard Aaron Banks, who was already out Week 1 with knee tendinitis, exited Sunday’s game with a fresh toe injury. His replacement, Donovan Jennings, also left the game with a hand injury! Talk about a revolving door of bad luck. The coaching staff was actually discussing moving tight end Tucker Kraft to offensive tackle at one point until Jacob Monk got medically cleared. That’s how desperate things got, imagining a tight end playing tackle. When you’re talking about shuffling bodies like that on the line, it tells you everything about the depth issues that cropped up in a single game. Banks was initially replaced by Jennings, then by rookie fifth-round pick Jager Burton. We’re still in the dark on Banks’ and Jennings’ injuries, with no updates released yet.
What’s Next for This Battered Offense?
This team is going to have to release official injury reports starting tomorrow, and honestly, we’re all going to be glued to them. Why? Because the Packers are facing the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football, meaning a short week for a team that just got absolutely decimated by injuries. You gotta wonder how they’re going to piece together a functional offensive line for that matchup. It’s going to be a brutal grind for them, especially with these crucial starters out. The only silver lining in this mess came from Jayden Reed himself, who tweeted out that he’s feeling better. “Doing much better, appreciate all the prayers and support 🙏🏾 #GPG 🧀,” he said. That’s a little bit of hope, but the reality is, this offense has some major healing and adjusting to do before they step onto the field again.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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