Packers WR Jayden Reed out indefinitely as former OLB Preston Smith signs for the Commanders

Green Bay Packers wideout Jayden Reed revealed on social media that he underwent surgery on Sept. 16 to repair both a broken collarbone and a Jones fracture in his left foot.

"Successful foot & clavicle surgery, thank you God," Reed shared in a post on X later that afternoon. The second-year receiver fractured his clavicle during Green Bay’s Week 2 win over Washington on Sept. 11, an injury suffered right after hauling in a touchdown that was negated by a holding flag on the Packers’ opening drive. Recovery from a collarbone break typically sidelines players for six to eight weeks.

With Reed already set to miss extended time, doctors also addressed the foot injury he’d been managing since training camp. The fracture had forced him into a walking boot during the preseason, though he battled back in time to suit up for the opener against Detroit on Sept. 7.

Reed opened the campaign with three catches for 45 yards, but now faces a lengthy rehab as the Packers adjust to life without one of their most dynamic young playmakers.

The Commanders made a pair of roster moves after Thursday night's defeat to Green Bay, placing Austin Ekeler (Achilles) and Deatrich Wise Jr. (calf) on injured reserve. In response, the front office is shuffling the deck — promoting Jalyn Holmes from the practice squad, bringing in Chase Edmonds for backfield depth, and now turning to a familiar face for reinforcements on the defensive line.

Veteran edge rusher Preston Smith is heading back to D.C., rejoining the franchise that originally drafted him in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Smith spent four seasons in Washington before cashing in with Green Bay on a four-year, $52 million deal. After a steady run with the Packers, he was dealt to Pittsburgh last season for a seventh-round pick. Now, at 32, he returns as one of the more experienced names left on the free-agent market.

Smith steps into a defense still reshaping its identity under Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. The unit remains anchored in the trenches by Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw, with Jer’Zhan Newton and Eddie Goldman providing depth at tackle. On the edges, Dorance Armstrong, Jacob Martin, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, and Holmes held down the rotation before Smith’s signing.

With Jayden Reed sidelined and Christian Watson still working his way back, the Packers’ receiving corps will be stretched thin in the coming weeks. Reed’s foot issue had the makings of a season-long nuisance, so the timing of his surgery might spare Green Bay from a lingering problem later on.

Watson is targeting a return by Week 6 after rehabbing his ACL, leaving Jordan Love to lean heavily on Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, and rookie first-rounder Matthew Golden. Depth options Malik Heath and Savion Williams should also see increased snaps as the offense adjusts.

One name likely to benefit the most is tight end Tucker Kraft, who continues to emerge as a reliable target. Kraft was instrumental in last week’s win over Washington, hauling in six passes for 124 yards and proving he can be a go-to outlet when Love needs him most.

The Packers have cleared two of the biggest hurdles on their schedule already, taking down both the Lions and Commanders in commanding fashion. Each time, Green Bay put up 27 points while keeping opponents out of the end zone until the fourth quarter.

Now comes a stretch that looks far less daunting on paper. This weekend, they’ll travel to face the Cleveland Browns, a team sitting at 0-2 after a miserable 3-14 campaign last year. It’s the kind of matchup that offers the Packers a chance to build momentum while fine-tuning their rhythm on both sides of the ball.