Packers Pull a Bold WR Shift as Jayden Reed’s Status Against the Lions Sends Shockwaves Through the Roster.QQ

The Green Bay Packers are making a move at wide receiver after deciding on Jayden Reed’s playing status for Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions.

According to the transaction wire, the Packers signed wide receiver Will Sheppard from the practice squad to the active roster in a slew of moves on Wednesday, November 26.

They also elevated linebacker Jamon Johnson and defensive back Jaylin Simpson from the practice squad to the game-day roster and released kicker Lucas Havrisik to clear a spot for Sheppard to join Green Bay’s 53-man roster officially before Week 13’s game.

Notably absent from the Packers’ roster moves, however, was an activation for Reed from injured reserve, meaning he won’t play against the Lions on Thanksgiving. The Packers opened Reed’s 21-day practice window on November 21, and he spent the entire week as a limited participant in practice. No activation in the short week, though.

The Packers (7-3-1) will face the Lions (7-4) on the road at 1 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving.

Savion Williams Ruled Out, Matthew Golden Uncertain

While Reed’s activation will wait at least another week, the Packers had more reasons than just him to promote another pass-catcher to their roster for Week 13’s matchup.

In their final injury report, the Packers also ruled out third-round rookie wide receiver Savion Williams with a foot injury and listed first-round rookie Matthew Golden as questionable to play against the Lions, creating a potential depth issue at the position.

Williams has been managing his foot injury since Week 10, but he hadn’t missed a game yet before the Packers ruled him out against the Lions. The decision was not surprising, though, after Williams did not participate in all three practices in the short week.

Meanwhile, Golden’s injuries have kept him out of two of the last three games for the Packers, but he did appear to make progress in the injury report, as the team only listed him with a wrist injury instead of also including the shoulder issue that has slowed him.

The Packers also had wide receivers Romeo Doubs (wrist), Christian Watson (knee) and Dontayvion Wicks (calf) listed on their injury report in practice, but none of the three will carry injury designations into their Thanksgiving Day game against the Lions.

Will Sheppard Could Make NFL Debut Against Lions

The Packers have called up Sheppard — a 2025 undrafted rookie out of Colorado — as a depth precaution for Week 13’s matchup with the Lions. If they cannot clear Golden in the pregame, though, Sheppard could potentially see receiving snaps in his NFL debut.

Sheppard caught 48 passes for 621 yards and six touchdowns in 2024 as one of Shedeur Sanders‘ top receiving targets at Colorado, following up his productive three seasons at Vanderbilt. He also made a modest impression during his first NFL training camp with the Packers in the summer, catching three of four targets for 21 yards in limited action.

While Sheppard is more likely to have a special teams role than anything else against the Lions, the Packers could turn his way if more injuries rear their heads or they have any issues with their current receiving personnel. They will also have Bo Melton and Malik Heath, whom the Packers ruled out in Week 12 due to a coach’s decision.

Lions’ Defensive Ends Exposed – Micah Parsons Sets the Standard They Can’t Touch

The Detroit Lions are not investing north of $45 million annually for a player to lead the league in pressures and to go entire games without recording a single sack.

Simply put, during the Thanksgiving Day Classic, Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Micah Parsons had more quality impact than Aidan Hutchinson did.

Quarterback Jordan Love got himself nice and comfortable in the pocket, as the Lions’ defensive line could not bring down the young signal-caller. Hutchinson recorded five pressures, but that did not deter the Packers from dropping 31 points at Ford Field.

Micah Parsons recorded 2.5 sacks, four pressures and eight tackles.

“I don’t know,” said Hutchinson, when asked about the lack of sack totals the last month of the season from the defensive line. “I think we’re just in a little bit, you know yeah, it’s just not flowing right now. I don’t know. It’s something that can be a tedious thing sometimes, but sometimes it can be, like certain games where you feel like who’s not going to get a sack. So, I don’t know, something you got to look at for sure.”

Clearly, opposing offensive lines are chipping and sending extra help to impede the former No. 2 overall pick’s ability to get to the quarterback.

What is even more frustrating was nobody else was able to take advantage to record meaningful statistics against the Packers.

“It’s interesting. There is like the chippers, the guards coming back to double team you,” said Hutchinson. “It makes those reps that you get, when you do have a one-on-one, it makes those that much more precious, for sure.”

Hutchinson has only recorded 2.5 sacks over the last six games. Hardly enough to keep the Lions in the division race. Unfortunately, Detroit is highly unlikely to repeat again as division champions.

“Yeah, it’s not expected. This obviously puts us behind the eight ball, in terms of what we want to do this season,” Hutchinson expressed, after losing to the Packers. “You know, it’s real adversity, and we have a decision to make and a decision to continue to figure it out and let this thing click on all three phases.

“We got a good challenge next week in Dallas to do that,” Hutchinson added. “So really, we got to learn what we can, and try to move on and as fast as we can, because I think there’s a lot of football to be played.”

Dan Campbell had no real explanation for why the defensive line has struggled lately, opting to wait until he watched film.

“I don’t know. That’s a good question,” said Campbell. “Until I watch this game, I want to know what this game looks like before I make a comment on that. So, I’m not sure.”