Packer’s Injury Update
The Green Bay Packers had a strong showing against the Washington Commanders on Thursday night. However, things took a turn for the worse when top receiver Jaden Reid sustained a broken collarbone, sidelining him for approximately six to eight weeks.
The injury continues a troubling trend for the Packers’ wide receiver group, which has faced numerous setbacks this offseason and preseason. So, it’s fair to wonder who might step up in this situation and stay healthy moving forward.
Currently, the Packers are missing Christian Watson, who is on the physically unable to perform list due to a torn ACL from last season. Reid himself was recovering from Jones fractures in his leg. Don Yvion has just returned from a calf injury, so the situation is a bit precarious. On a positive note, Romeo Doubs, rookie Matthew Golden, Samori Toure, and Malik Heath all made it through Thursday’s game without issues, and Tucker Kraft should be added to that list as well.
During the game, Doubs and Golden ran most of the routes, while Wicks also contributed, as did Heath and rookie Sabion Williams, who both saw limited action. Reid’s injury may push Golden into a full-time starting role, although Wicks seems poised to take over significant slot responsibilities.
Wicks really stood out, reeling in four catches on six targets for a team-high 44 yards. The Packers maintained a comfortable lead throughout the evening, which meant quarterback Jordan Love wasn’t compelled to throw excessively, limiting the stats for the receivers. While Kraft had notable fantasy value, he still shared the team’s target lead with six, which highlights an ongoing concern: Love tends to spread the ball around instead of favoring one receiver.
Wicks is still available in many fantasy leagues and may be worth considering. Golden is on about 83% of Yahoo Fantasy teams, whereas Wicks is listed on just 1%. Right now, Wicks seems to have the edge for overall targets, which makes him more appealing than Golden for the time being. However, I’d prefer to see Golden capitalize on some potential before taking the plunge with him.
