Green Bay's offense had barely taken the field Sunday when disaster struck twice. On the second play from scrimmage against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, wide receiver Jayden Reed caught a four-yard screen pass from Jordan Love and was tackled by linebacker Demario Davis, and medical staff immobilized him on a spine board after a neck injury. One play later, right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele went down with a non-contact knee injury and was carted off with an air cast on his leg.
The sequence unfolded in stunning fashion, according to the New York Post, with Green Bay's sideline gathering around Reed as he lay on the turf. USA Today reporter Ryan Wood observed Reed moving his right leg before he was carted off, a detail noted by Heavy Sports. Reed was tackled on the bubble screen and remained face down on the turf before medical personnel stabilized him. Green Bay has since ruled Reed out for the remainder of the game with a neck injury, per the Post.
Bako-Bewele's injury came while he was blocking pass rusher David Bailey before he was fitted with the air cast and carted off. Green Bay also ruled him out with a knee injury, according to the Post. Second-year blocker Anthony Belton replaced him on Green Bay's next offensive drive.
Two Extensions, Two Recent Injury Histories
Both players carry heavy financial and medical stakes for Green Bay entering this season. Reed signed a three-year, $50.25 million contract extension with $20 million guaranteed in April, reflecting the team's financial commitment despite a 2025 campaign in which he was restricted to seven regular-season games due to a broken collarbone and foot surgery for a Jones fracture, as Hoodline previously reported. Before Sunday's neck injury, Reed had compiled 138 receptions for 1,857 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns across 40 career regular-season games, leading Green Bay in receiving yards during both his 2023 rookie season and 2024 sophomore campaign, per Yardbarker.
Bako-Bewele's situation carries its own weight. He signed a four-year, $88 million extension.
A Name Change Rooted in Heritage
Fans unfamiliar with the offensive lineman's name may recognize him better as Zach Tom, the surname under which the Packers drafted him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Wake Forest. He officially changed his surname prior to the 2026 season to honor his Nigerian heritage, according to his Wikipedia entry. He started all 17 games at right tackle for Green Bay in both 2023 and 2024 before making the change.
With Bako-Bewele sidelined, the job now shifts to Anthony Belton, whom Green Bay selected in the second round, 54th overall, of the 2025 NFL Draft out of NC State. Belton had been competing for starting snaps at both guard and tackle during 2026 training camp, according to Lombardi Ave.
Spinal Protocol and a Contested Playing Surface
Reed was transported on a spine board after suffering a neck injury.
The venue itself has drawn scrutiny in the past. MetLife Stadium uses turf, which was scheduled to be reinstalled for the 2026 season, and the surface has faced criticism from the NFLPA and players. Sports Illustrated also discussed Malik Nabers' ACL injury. NFL injury data released in late 2025 found MetLife ranked ninth-best in the league at minimizing lower-extremity injuries, per Sports Illustrated.
A Rough Start Gets Rougher
Green Bay entered Sunday's game looking to bounce back from a Week 1 division loss to the Minnesota Vikings, in which the team surrendered 29 unanswered points in the second half of a 39-22 defeat, according to Packers.com. Quarterback Jordan Love threw for 387 yards in that opener but committed late turnovers as Minnesota's second-half surge overwhelmed Green Bay. Reed was targeted seven times during that Week 1 loss, per the Post, making his exit just one play into Sunday's rebound attempt an especially painful blow for a Green Bay offense already searching for consistency.
