The Green Bay Packers lost two offensive starters on consecutive plays during their opening possession Sunday against the New York Jets, with wide receiver Jayden Reed ruled out because of a neck injury and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele ruled out because of a knee injury.
Green Bay confirmed both players were carted off and would not return. Reed was injured on the second offensive play of the game after catching a short pass from Jordan Love. Medical personnel stabilized him on a backboard before he was taken from the field. On the very next play, Bako-Bewele went down while blocking, had his right leg placed in an air cast and also left by cart.
The sequence immediately changed the personnel picture for a Packers offense that entered Week 2 already managing several injuries. FSN had previously covered Green Bay’s final injury concerns before the Jets game, but Reed’s neck injury was a new in-game development and Bako-Bewele had been active after entering Sunday questionable with a knee issue.
Jayden Reed ruled out with neck injury
The Packers’ official in-game update listed Reed with a neck injury and confirmed he was out for the remainder of the game. Reuters reported that Reed was hit on a swing pass by converging Jets defenders, remained down and received immediate medical attention before being placed on a spine board.
The visual severity of the scene makes Reed’s health the primary concern, but no diagnosis beyond the neck injury had been announced at the time of this report. Green Bay will need postgame testing and follow-up evaluation before there is a reliable timeline for his return.
From a football standpoint, Reed’s absence removes one of Green Bay’s most versatile receiving options. His ability to work underneath, from the slot and after the catch gives the Packers a different dimension from their larger outside receivers. With Reed out, Green Bay had to lean more heavily on Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Skyy Moore and the rest of its available pass-catchers.
Zach Bako-Bewele’s knee injury creates an immediate line change
Bako-Bewele’s injury came one snap after Reed left the field. The Packers announced a knee injury and ruled him out immediately. Reuters reported that an air cast was placed on his right leg before he was taken off by cart.
That is particularly notable because Bako-Bewele entered the game already listed as questionable with a knee issue. Green Bay nevertheless cleared him to play Sunday along with left guard Aaron Banks. Once Bako-Bewele exited, Anthony Belton became the logical replacement at right tackle.
The change matters beyond simple depth. Losing a starting right tackle can affect protection calls, help assignments from tight ends and running backs, and the number of longer-developing pass concepts an offense is comfortable calling. The Packers were forced to make those adjustments almost immediately against New York.
What comes next for Green Bay
The most important next step is medical clarity on both players. Reed’s neck injury will require careful evaluation before any return-to-play discussion is meaningful. Bako-Bewele’s knee will also need imaging and further assessment before Green Bay can determine whether it is dealing with a short-term absence or something more significant.
Until then, the Packers have to prepare for the possibility that both losses extend beyond Week 2. That would test Green Bay at two premium spots at once: a starting receiver who helps create explosive plays and a starting tackle responsible for keeping pressure away from Jordan Love.
The injuries also illustrate how quickly a game-day depth chart can change. Bako-Bewele was active after carrying an injury designation into Sunday, while Reed entered the game without an announced issue. Three offensive plays into the afternoon, both were unavailable.