The Green Bay Packers sure look like the best team in the NFL after two games, but things are about to get much harder. They will now be without Jayden Reed for at least the next two months as he suffered a collarbone injury early against the Washington Commanders.
Reed was the top receiver on the roster and has been battling injuries all camp, but now the Packers will be forced to play without him during the meat of their schedule.
One player who is expected to see more snaps in his absence is Dontayvion Wicks, who has started 12 games for the Packers over his first three seasons. Wicks has been involved in the offense plenty over the first two weeks, but his role should grow by quite a bit now that Reed is out.
Packers WR Dontayvion Wicks is ready for a breakout season
Talent has never been an issue for Wicks in the NFL. It’s clear that he can be a high-end starter in the league, and he showcased that during his sophomore season. During the 2024 season, Wicks had the league’s fourth-best “OPEN” score, according to ESPN Analytics. He creates separation with ease and is nearly impossible to cover one-on-one.
It’s also worth noting that Wicks finished inside the top-20 wide receivers in the league in YAC score, via ESPN, during the 2024 season. He gets open, and he makes plays after the catch. What more do you need?
Well, the reason Wicks hasn’t reached that elite status yet is due to his drops, which have been a problem during his NFL career. Wicks dropped nearly 12 percent of his targets last year, which was the most in the league. That has been the only thing holding him back from being a high-end starter.
But that hasn’t been an issue yet for Wicks during the 2025 season, and it’s why he has graded out so well to start the year. Wicks is currently the fifth-highest graded receiver in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. The only players with higher grades are Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Ja’Marr Chase, and Zay Flowers. That’s not bad company to be in.
With Matthew Golden still developing and Romeo Doubs being an outside-only receiver, the Packers are likely to lean heavily on Wicks to move the chains in the passing game.
If he proves that the drops are a thing of the past, then Wicks could explode in Green Bay over the next two months. He is on the verge of stardom and just needed one break (no pun intended) to get his chance. Look for Wicks to become the de facto No. 1 receiver in Green Bay for the time being.