MINNEAPOLIS – Sterling Sharpe is one of the greatest players in Green Bay Packers history. Rookie receiver Jayden Reed broke one of Sharpe’s franchise records during the first half of Sunday night’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.
A first-round pick in 1988, Sharpe caught 55 passes as a rookie. That broke Billy Howton’s 36-year-old Packers record for most receptions in a debut season. Thirty-five years later, Reed entered Sunday’s game at the Vikings needing two catches to break Sharpe’s record.
He wasted no time in getting there, though he broke the record with no style points. Reed caught a pass for 6 yards on the second possession to tie the record and opened the third possession for no gain to break the record.
The style points came on the next play, when Reed got open deep over the middle for a 33-yard touchdown.
Late in the first half, Reed’s sixth catch of the night resulted in a 22-yard touchdown for a 23-3 lead. Reed caught the ball at the 22, broke a tackle by Harrison Smith and drug Josh Metellus 8 yards for the touchdown.
“Just an honor to be able to accomplish a goal like that,” Reed said recently. “Obviously, hasn’t been done in a long time so I’m just grateful for the people that put me in this position to do so. I’m highly grateful and blessed.”
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