It's been a good week for Jordan Reed.
The Redskins rookie tight end popped off the screen during Washington's 45-41 win over the Bears on Sunday, catching nine passes for 134 yards and a touchdown against a Chicago defense that couldn't keep up.
We examined Reed's handiwork in this week's Game Rewind Takeaways, and the Redskins see enough in the first-year pro to turn veteran tight end Fred Davis into trade bait, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport.
Reed showed fine chemistry with Robert Griffin III, who made some of his best throws to the young tight end against Chicago. Reed exhibits a knack for splitting coverage and creating windows for his quarterback. ESPN's Ron Jaworski gushed over Reed's play after watching the tape.
"The guy will be sensational," Jaws said, per ESPN.com. "He's one of the guys that jumps off the tape at you. I like to use the word 'flash.' We saw a little bit of it earlier this season but clearly against Chicago I saw a lot more of it.
"We were talking here, he reminded us on the field of an Aaron Hernandez," Jaworski said. "He has that kind of wide receiver movement for a big guy. This guy is going to scare the hell out of defenses. They can't load up the box when you have the ability to get him down the field matched against linebackers and safeties. That's a mismatch. He has a chance to be really good. We talk about splash plays; the splash plays against Chicago came from him."
It hasn't been a pretty season for the Redskins, but after 2012 sixth-round draft pick Alfred Morris emerged as a wunderkind in the backfield last season, Washington has hit the jackpot again.
Reed was passed over twice by every team in the league until the Redskins grabbed him in the third round of April's draft. If Washington plans to make another late-season push, as they did last year, expect Reed to play a major role.
We previewed every Week 8 game in the latest "Around The League Podcast."**