5 Questions with LeRoy Butler: How the Packers will prepare for the Bears
LeRoy Butler has high hopes for the Packers offense given the breakout by Dontayvion Wicks against the Lions and the imminent return of Jayden Reed.
GREEN BAY – Jayden Reed is returning to play the Chicago Bears.
The Green Bay Packers activated one of their top receivers off injured reserve Dec. 6. Reed has not played since breaking his collarbone Week 2 against the Washington Commanders. He had collarbone surgery as well as an operation on his foot to repair a Lisfranc fracture.
When healthy, Reed is one of the Packers’ top playmakers. Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said this week the team believes Reed has some of the best playmaking out of the slot in the NFL. Coach Matt LaFleur lauded Reed‘s ability to get yards after the catch and “dog mentality” to do the dirty work at his position.
The Packers certainly will need more receivers to pitch in for that dirty work. They released receiver Malik Heath to make room for Reed on the active roster. Heath, in his third season with the team after going undrafted in 2023, was known as a lunch pail receiver especially useful as a blocker.
Heath was left home in Green Bay when the team traveled to the New York Giants in Week 11 with LaFleur citing a “coach’s decision.”
The Packers also continued to search for help on their defensive line, claiming veteran lineman Quinton Bohanna off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks. Bohanna, at 6-foot-4, 355 pounds, becomes the heaviest player on their roster. A 2021 sixth-round pick, he has spent parts of seven NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans and Seahawks, where he played 32 snaps this season.
