This depth is not an accident. Again, Gutekunst has shown that working with LaFleur results in a team that has several players that could be the "next man up". This reminds me of the Holmgren years, when someone would be injured, and the replacement would be up to the job.

Savion Williams.
It's easy to forget or discount him, but that's because he was injured most of the preseason. LaFleur made several comments early on about how impressed they were with his learning of the offense and his athletic ability.
I think he's going to break out in a big way.

Obviously, all of the other WRs are going to get their shots in the slot as well, but Williams has the potential to be a superstar there.

Elevate Hardman and fast track the development of Golden. Love already has excellent chemistry with Doubs and Wicks has been very solid so far. We should be able to handle this.

A smaller concern would be punt return duties since our defense is forcing a lot them (yay!). If we elevate Hardman, pray that he does a better job than he showed in preseason. I don't think we want to chance Golden any more in this role.

I would expect Wicks and Golden to be the primary beneficiaries. Both can play in the slot and outside and are, with Doubs, the remaining top of the depth chart that is often only starting 2, one of which is usually Doubs. If they elevate Hardman (as seems likely) to handle punts, then he may get a few opportunities too at what is his natural position. If not, if Melton is healthy, perhaps he gets a few opportunities. Slot is a role where we are deep enough to have credible options.

More 12 personnel and involving the RBs in the passing game to help offset Reed's absence...he's a big loss.

It is strange how well the OL pass blocks while it barely gets any push during run blocking. JJ has to mostly create yards on his own.

I believe the OL coaches emphasize pass blocking more than they do run blocking. I was expecting Banks, Jenks, Rhyan would bring more horse power to the inside run game. Not yet.

Here's a good analysis of Reed's injury (if the link will work.)
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOhDEnfkrwF/

Heath made a nice block on the Williams around the edge run near the end of the 2nd qtr, and so did Kraft. Heath's performance was really good in the game, and I would expect to be the primary beneficiary. I think Wicks also had a nice block on tyhe second-half end around.

-Kraft
-Doubs
-Wicks
-Heath
-Golden
-Musgrave
-Brooks made some nice catches on Thursday
-Shepard looked good in pre-season

Lots of weapons - and if Lafleur gets the more motion thing going with the Jet sweeps - and if Love can hit Golden or even Doubs or Williams on the long balls if they crowd the line - the deep ball will be there - and I dont mind the fact that Love is overthrowing the ball a bit on those plays because underthrowing caused INT"s before - in stride usually leads to TDs. I just hope that the Watson injury thing is over because - I mean just because.

For what it's worth (not much?), Dontayvion Wicks is listed as the backup slot receiver on the Packers' official depth chart. If they want to go with experience, he's the guy. On the other hand, I love the idea of just plugging Matthew Golden into that role. He's almost the exact height and weight as Reed, and runs just as fast, but he's more elusive than Reed. In addition to taking on Reed's role, Golden could still play some snaps as an outside receiver--a role he is already familiar with. Gil mentions that Golden did not catch any passes against the Commanders but does not mention that he got open deep twice, and with good throws he would've had a monster game with two TDS and something like 130 yards receiving. He is fully ready to play wide receiver in the NFL. The question is how fast he can learn to play in the slot, if they choose to put him there.

I suspect the Packers will use a mixture of Wicks, Golden, and Savion Williams to replace Reed. This will lead to more opportunities for Malik Heath, and maybe they will elevate Mecole Hardman from the practice squad and give him a few snaps as well. I'm leery of Hardman as a punt returner after watching his butchery of those duties in the first preseason game. I would be okay with Golden returning punts.

Reed was a good weapon and we're going to miss what he brings.

Until he's back, what's The Plan? Doubs, Wicks, and Golden are going to have to play. Heath and Williams should get more snaps. If we play double TE, then Musgrave could get more time on the field while we only play two WRs.

I think playing Doubs and Wicks, along with Musgrave and Kraft, probably puts our best 4 man weapon group on the field.

And we'll run more and pass less. Any of those adjustments can replace what he brought. Remember, last season, when healthy-ish, he only had 75 targets. That's less than 5 targets per game. That's replaceable, at least in the short term.

We're about one injury away from a pretty weak group. When is Watson coming back?

}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Ironically, our downfall in the playoffs last year also featured a lot of injuries at the WR spot. We're right back where we started from.

I'm not so sure this is an issue.

With no #1 wr that gets the majority of targets, the Packers success has been wr by committee.
With the drops down (so far) this season, that just strengthens my point.

MLF has been doing a fabulous job of scheming these receivers open, and a good majority, are WIDE open.

In a lot of ways, all these 2025 collection of receivers are a gift from Gute.
I remember in 2020 Rodgers having Adams, Tonyan, MVS and Lazard.
Not exactly the wr riches of the NFL sans Adams.

Rodgers threw for 4.300 yards, and won MVP that season at 36 years old.

I think Love and the pass offense should be just fine.

How about that guy who can go both wars if necessary> Everyone seems to forget him.

The number one receiver will change every game.

Musgrave will have good games as they look at Kraft

Health one of my favorites will get more opportunities always great catches.

Wicks is open more than a seven eleven. Open 24 hours a day

Golden will get in the mix soon to get Golden opportunities.

Doubs just gets it done.

Watson when he’s back with Golden on the field together. .I might have a heart attack.

Jacob’s pure stud. Leader. Etc etc etc

Wilson Brooks needs some more opportunities

Lloyd get back and run some old pitch plays off tackle for 7 or 8 yards a crack

Defense

I get more excited than. Well I better not say my favorite saying on here

Gary playing his best football
LVN turning it up
Williams and X real good jobs

Bullard go it going Thursday

D Wyatt learned a few things from Kenny and playing real good under DeMarcus

Quay what can I say. Having a good season playing excited

Hobbs will get a pick next game

Copper Parsons. What can I say

Nixon Valentine great jobs

With that said. Need to do it week after week.

A great start 2 wins at home out of 8 . 15 games left 9 on the road so still up hill battle.

The more we win the more other teams coming after you.

Need to win all 10 at home this year. 8 regular season 2 playoff games.

Back of the season gets tougher. One game at a time.

One game at a time

I hated to see Reed go down, as a fan he's one of my favorite Packers to watch. But looking at the roster at the end of the day, we have no worries.
It's a Nothing Burger.

Reed played about 60% of the snaps (around 40) and got 5 targets. We can simply redistribute the targets, giving one more touch to Jacobs/Wilson, one more target to Kraft, one more touch to Savion Williams, one more target to Golden, one more target to Heath , etc.

On the plays where he isn't the target, he's either blocking, or clearing out. That's about 35 snaps that have to be made up......Golden, Williams, Heath will have to fill that void.