Packers add guard Kevin Zeitler and
lose receiver Jayden Reed for the rest of the season
[October 01, 2026]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Veteran guard Kevin Zeitler is heading home
to try to boost the Green Bay Packers' slumping offense, which
suffered one more setback with the news that wide receiver Jayden
Reed will miss the rest of the season.
Zeitler is the latest experienced guard to sign with Green Bay as
the Packers attempt to strengthen their biggest area of weakness.
The Packers signed Laken Tomlinson to their 53-man roster and added
Mekhi Becton to their practice squad Monday.
The 36-year-old Zeitler, who made a Pro Bowl in 2023, grew up in the
Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha. He played in college at Wisconsin
before beginning his NFL career in 2012.
“Growing up a big Pack fan, enjoying the Brett Favre era and all
that. Just to come back and kind of know the history, be back in the
state of Wisconsin, it’s pretty great,” Zeitler said after practice
Wednesday. “My family’s pretty excited. I wouldn’t want to be
anywhere else.”
Also Wednesday, the Packers announced Reed would undergo
season-ending surgery. He injured his neck in the first quarter of
the Packers’ 20-17 overtime victory over the New York Jets on Sept.
20.
Right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele and Reed were carted off the field on
consecutive plays, and neither will play again this season.
“We will definitely be missing J-Reed,” quarterback Jordan Love
said. “He is one of one. He is a big-time player, obviously holding
down the slot position for us. He does so many great things.”
Reed’s absence will force the Packers to lean more on Christian
Watson and Matthew Golden. Watson has 17 catches for 284 yards and
four touchdowns, and Golden has 15 catches for 253 yards and one
score.
Packers' O-line has been a problem all season
Green Bay’s main issue has been the offensive line’s inability to
establish any rhythm.
Rookie fifth-round draft pick Jager Burton started last Thursday's
loss to Atlanta in place of injured left guard Aaron Banks. Right
guard Jacob Monk had only one career start before this season.
Neither player has been effective.
Banks and Monk didn't practice Wednesday. Banks is dealing with knee
and toe injuries while Monk has a quadriceps issue.
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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (11) is taken off the
field following an injury during an NFL football game againt the New
York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP
Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
The Packers (1-2) would like to get their veteran
newcomers on the field as soon as possible, perhaps as soon as
Sunday at Tampa Bay (0-3). All three of Green Bay's new guards were
first-round draft picks.
“I think it just calms down the O-line,” coach Matt LaFleur said.
“When you have veterans in there who have been through the war —
certainly we’ve got young guys playing beside them — that can
definitely settle things down.”
Green Bay failed to protect Love and gained just 17 yards on nine
carries in its 35-14 loss to the Falcons. Love said Wednesday he
needs to start making quicker decisions and noted how the pressure
he's been facing has impacted his fundamentals.
“Going back and watching this last game, there’s definitely some
plays — especially later in the game — where we talked about my feet
are just getting a little bit off,” Love said. “And that definitely
is some of the pressure being a factor in that. In that scenario,
I’ve just got to be better right there.”
Zeitler has made 213 starts for Cincinnati, Cleveland, the New York
Giants, Baltimore, Detroit and Tennessee while primarily playing
right guard. He underwent surgery for a leg injury after playing for
Tennessee last season.
“The best part about playing for all these teams over the years is
I’ve had access to almost every type of offense here and there,”
Zeitler said. “So right now it’s just learning the terminology, but
all the concepts I’ve done in some way, shape or form. Now it’s just
learning how the guys talk, how they space themselves, how it all
works out.”
Tomlinson has played for Detroit (2015-16), San Francisco (2017-21),
the New York Jets (2022-23), Seattle (2024) and Houston (2025). All
but one of his 162 starts have come at left guard.
Becton was a right guard for the Philadelphia Eagles when they won
the Super Bowl in the 2024 season. He started 14 games for the Los
Angeles Chargers last season and had surgery in March for a torn
labrum.
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