Three weeks into the season, teams are already losing players they expected to have around for the long haul. Green Bay Packers watched one of its key receivers go down in the opening minutes of a game, Carolina lost both of its starting cornerbacks against Cleveland, and Tampa Bay is now dealing with another setback in a receiver room already adjusting around its quarterback. With Week 4 around the corner, those absences are starting to force some early changes. The biggest update has now come from Green Bay.

Jayden Reed’s Season Ends After Frightening Neck Injury

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Jayden Reed is out indefinitely, if not for the season, after suffering an injury in the second play of the game. Right after that, Schefter also reported that head coach Matt LaFleur has confirmed that Reed will undergo season-ending neck surgery.

“It will be season-ending. He’ll be out, unfortunately. He let me know yesterday that he’s going to have to have surgery as well. But he will be out a significant amount of time. I mean, it’s tough on him.

He’s a guy that, you know, he wants to be out there and compete. And certainly, I think that any time you go through a situation like that, it’s a pretty scary deal. I didn’t even realize the magnitude at the time. But certainly, when I was out there with him and just seeing what was going on, you know, it kind of shocks you.”

Reed also took to his social media handle and shared an emotional post.

“God will use the unusual to do the unexpected… 11 out🙏🏾,” Reed captioned his Instagram post, while taking a knee on the field.

The development gained momentum after the Packers’ 20-17 win over the Jets in Week 2. Reed suffered the injury on the second play of the game. The Packers called the bubble screen to Reed, who caught a short pass from quarterback Jordan Love and gained four yards.

As Reed finished the play, Jets linebacker Demario Davis tackled him. Davis’ left shoulder appeared to make direct contact with the front of Reed’s helmet.

The impact caused Reed to go down immediately. He remained on the ground as the medical personnel rushed in. Subsequently, Reed left the field and never returned to the field for the remainder of the game. Later, head coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged that Jayden Reed had movement in all of his extremities.

“He will be staying overnight. That was obviously a very scary deal. Anytime you see anybody down on the field and have to get carted off,” said LaFleur.

Reed did not travel back to Green Bay with the Packers after their 20-17 overtime victory. Instead, he stayed overnight in New Jersey and was hospitalized for observation. Subsequently, he missed the Packers’ Week 3 loss to the Atlanta Falcons and now will miss the rest of the season.

After his post gained traction, his teammates chimed in to show their support for the receiver.

“Love u family,” wrote Reed’s fellow receiver Matthew Golden, while safety Javon Bullard added, “Love ya bird🤞🏾, LEAN ON GOD.” Savion Williams also offered support, as he commented, “❤️❤️.”

This is the second time Reed has suffered an injury in the second week of a season. In the 2025 season, he suffered a fracture in his collarbone against the Washington Commanders. As that happened, he missed the majority of the season after undergoing surgeries to repair a broken clavicle and a Jones fracture in his left foot.

While Green Bay ultimately activated him from injured reserve in 2025, Reed’s 2026 season has ended, as he will now undergo season-ending surgery. The Packers had just signed him to a three-year, $50.25 million contract extension earlier this year.

The injury news extends beyond Green Bay, with the Carolina Panthers also losing two key pieces of their defense in the same roster move.

Panthers Lose Both Starting Cornerbacks to Injured Reserve

The Panthers placed starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson on injured reserve Wednesday after both players were hurt in the Week 3 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Horn is dealing with a quad injury, while Jackson suffered a groin injury. Both players will miss at least the next four games.

The timing is particularly significant for Carolina because these were not interchangeable pieces in the secondary. Horn is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons, while Jackson led the NFL with 19 pass breakups in 2025. The two cornerbacks also combined for nine interceptions last season, giving the Panthers one of the more productive cornerback pairings in the league.

Horn’s injury had already emerged as a major concern after head coach Dave Canales described it as “significant.” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport subsequently reported that Horn had torn his quad during the Browns’ game-winning touchdown. Horn was seeking a second opinion on the injury, while Jackson’s status remained less certain until the Panthers officially placed him on IR.

Jackson left Sunday’s game in the first half after an awkward fall on a play that also resulted in a coverage penalty. His absence now leaves Carolina without either of its starting boundary cornerbacks as it prepares for a Week 4 matchup with the Detroit Lions.

That puts more responsibility on 2026 fourth-round pick Will Lee, Chau Smith-Wade and special teams contributor Akayleb Evans. The Panthers also signed veteran Robert Rochell to their practice squad as they work through the sudden shortage at the position.

Canales had already acknowledged the difficulty of replacing Horn before Jackson’s status was finalized.

“There’s no replacing Jaycee Horn,” Canales said. “He has had such an amazing offseason training camp, in season, just the energy, the preparation, all the different things. He’s been amazing, has been really beautiful, so there’s no replacing Jaycee. We’re not asking our guys to replace Jaycee. We’re just asking them to do their job.”

And the Panthers’ injury list does not stop at the secondary. Starting left guard Damien Lewis is also expected to miss a few weeks with an ulnar collateral ligament injury in his elbow, while Carolina is monitoring several other players ahead of its Sunday night meeting with Detroit.

But, Carolina’s secondary isn’t the only unit taking a hit as Week 4 approaches. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have also lost a young offensive piece, with wide receiver Jalen McMillan heading to injured reserve.

Buccaneers Lose Jalen McMillan After Knee Injury Reaggravation

The Buccaneers placed McMillan on IR Wednesday after he suffered a PCL sprain in his left knee during Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The injury is a reaggravation of the same knee issue that had already limited him during training camp, with the early expectation being that he could miss six to eight weeks.

McMillan’s latest setback comes at an especially difficult time for Tampa Bay. The 2024 third-round pick had been expected to take on a larger role this season, particularly after making an impact late in his rookie campaign. He missed the Buccaneers’ season opener because of the earlier knee issue and has not recorded a catch through two games.

Now, he will be unavailable for at least the next four games while he recovers.

The Buccaneers are also dealing with an injury to their starting quarterback, Baker Mayfield, who is expected to miss at least three weeks with a dislocated right thumb. To add depth behind Mayfield, Tampa Bay signed veteran quarterback Brett Rypien to its practice squad Wednesday.

Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will take over as the starter beginning this week against the Green Bay Packers, while Easton Stick remains on the practice squad.

The Buccaneers also added safety Ifeatu Melifonwu to the 53-man roster from the practice squad, as the team continues to adjust to an increasingly depleted roster heading into Week 4.