Green Bay Packers wideout Jayden Reed on mistakes of last season, and how he’s improved for 2025, ‘I invested in…’

Jayden Reed’s hot start proves he is capable of breakout season

Year two started out like a breakout year for Jayden Reed. He recorded 793 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie in 2023, and then came flying out of the gates in 2024.

In the opening game of the season, Reed took just four catches for 138 yards and a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. He took a 33-yard run for a score to open the Packers’ account, before later breaking wide open for a 70-yard touchdown in that game. Fans felt like it might be his year to finally fill the void left by Davante Adams.

However, the following week, Reed caught just one pass for nine yards, and there lies the concern with his game. The Green Bay Packers need a dependable wide receiver who can make the big play on third down, or secure a touchdown late in the game when it matters.

In other words, Jordan Love needs a guy he believes he can throw to when he’s in a pinch, who will make a play for him down the field. The stars make a name for themselves, making clutch plays when their number is called, but so far in Jayden Reed’s young career, he’s been too easily marked out of games.

In 2024, the wide receiver had three 100+ yard games, but he also posted four games with ten yards or less, including the road game against the Detroit Lions, in which he didn’t secure a single catch.

Reed knows he needs to find consistency in 2025, and still has the opportunity to be the number one receiver for the Packers. Matthew Golden came in via the first round of the draft, but he has not necessarily been drafted to be the 1,000-yard guy on the offense. In fact, Golden’s presence may be the key to unlocking Jayden Reed.

While on the Night Cap podcast with Shannon Sharpe and Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson, Reed spoke about the measures he’s taking to prepare for the upcoming season.

“At the end of the day, I had some drops and that was the talk of last year. So I improved at that, I went and invested in the jugs machine, it’s right there in my garage, I’ve been catching on it every day, so really it’s me vs. me at the end of the day.”

Reed said he has been watching a lot of guys around the league, including some of the younger guys. He specifically mentioned both Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., both of whom had outstanding rookie seasons in 2024.

Jayden Reed’s praise for fellow teammate during Night Cap interview

Reed explained that he needs to talk a little more in 2025, as he feels he needs the competitive edge of getting into it on the field to bring the best out of himself. He said up until this point he doesn’t really talk on the field, but maybe a little trash talk is what his game has been missing.

While speaking about the receivers around the league that he watched, Reed mentioned one of his own teammates:

“I watch everybody’s tape. I watch Dontayvion Wicks, he’s on my team. He’s got one of the best release packages I’ve ever seen. I watch everybody, in our room, across the league, whatever it may be, you can learn from anybody.”

Wicks and Reed came in together and are now both entering the third year of their pro careers. Wicks had 415 yards and five touchdowns in the 2024 season, including a two-touchdown performance against the Minnesota Vikings.