Jayden Reed’s big plays kept the Packers alive

GREEN BAY – In a game of quick transitions, Jayden Reed may have been the most consistent player on the field for either the Packers or Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon.

Penalties, turnovers and missed opportunities plagued Green Bay during the 31-29 loss to the Vikings, but Reed was the playmaker the Packers needed from start to finish.

The second-year receiver caught seven of eight targets for a career-high 139 yards, including the Packers’ first touchdown with 15 seconds left in the first half.

Reed was single-handedly responsible for five of Green Bay’s 10 longest plays against Minnesota, a crucial performance for an offense playing without Christian Watson after the third-year wideout suffered an ankle injury at the end of the first quarter.

“This is just an honor for Jayden,” tight end Tucker Kraft said. “J-Reed comes to practice every day and he practices like it’s a game. I have so many positive things to say about J-Reed and his style of play. The last two weeks, before this game, everyone was out there blocking their play. “The asshole is gone and we flipped the script and he gets 130 yards and a touchdown.

Starting quarterback Jordan Love returned Sunday after missing two games with a knee injury, but the Packers still got off to a slow start in all three phases.

Reed provided the spark with a 24-yard catch that put Green Bay in scoring position on its first drive. However, the drive stalled at the Minnesota 14 and produced no points after kicker Brayden Narveson’s 37-yard field goal hit the right upright.

With less than a minute left in the first half, the Packers trailed 28-0 when Vikings punt returner Jalen Nailor parried Daniel Whelan’s powerful 74-yard punt, which was recovered by Bo Melton at the Minnesota 3.

Matt LaFleur received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the game’s seven referees missed the Packers’ head coach’s attempt to call a timeout. However, Reed caught up to his coach when he caught a 15-yard TD pass with 15 seconds left to put Green Bay on the field.

Even when things weren’t looking good, Reed remained focused on a comeback.

“It’s all a mindset, man,” said Reed, who set his career-high 138 receiving yards in Brazil earlier this month. “The game is not over until there are zeros for four quarters. I neither doubt nor give up. No matter what the result, I will keep fighting until the end.”

The Packers’ defense allowed a field goal in the second half while overwhelming the Vikings twice more. It allowed Green Bay’s offense to rack up 314 yards in the second half.

Reed added 92 yards on four catches in the second half. His 12-yard reception at the end of the third quarter started an 11-play, 89-yard touchdown drive to start the fourth quarter.