diff --git a/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json b/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
index faeb50b1b..d42ab5e93 100644
--- a/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
+++ b/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
       "name": "jira",
       "source": "./plugins/jira",
       "description": "A plugin to automate tasks with Jira",
-      "version": "0.4.5"
+      "version": "0.4.6"
     },
     {
       "name": "ci",
diff --git a/docs/data.json b/docs/data.json
index 1ab76e53c..7d197063c 100644
--- a/docs/data.json
+++ b/docs/data.json
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@
           "name": "Jira Status Analysis Engine"
         }
       ],
-      "version": "0.4.5"
+      "version": "0.4.6"
     },
     {
       "commands": [
diff --git a/plugins/jira/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/jira/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index 296f4dc38..347e9d6c5 100644
--- a/plugins/jira/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/jira/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "jira",
   "description": "A plugin to automate tasks with Jira",
-  "version": "0.4.5",
+  "version": "0.4.6",
   "author": {
     "name": "github.com/openshift-eng"
   }
diff --git a/plugins/jira/commands/update-weekly-status.md b/plugins/jira/commands/update-weekly-status.md
index ad93e5083..16f146100 100644
--- a/plugins/jira/commands/update-weekly-status.md
+++ b/plugins/jira/commands/update-weekly-status.md
@@ -156,32 +156,24 @@ For each issue listed in the manifest:
 
 ##### a. Read Pre-Gathered Data
 
-Read the issue's JSON file from `.work/weekly-status/{date}/issues/{ISSUE-KEY}.json`
+Use the `summarize_issue.py` script to extract a structured, human-readable summary from the pre-gathered JSON. This avoids reading large JSON files directly (which can exceed context limits) and produces output optimized for LLM analysis.
 
-The file contains:
-
-```json
-{
-  "issue": {
-    "key": "OCPSTRAT-1234",
-    "summary": "...",
-    "status": "In Progress",
-    "assignee": {"email": "...", "name": "..."},
-    "current_status_summary": "...",
-    "last_status_summary_update": "..."
-  },
-  "descendants": {
-    "total": 15,
-    "by_status": {"Closed": 5, "In Progress": 8, "To Do": 2},
-    "updated_in_range": [...],
-    "completion_pct": 33.3
-  },
-  "changelog_in_range": [...],
-  "comments_in_range": [...],
-  "prs": [...]
-}
+```bash
+python3 {plugins-dir}/jira/skills/status-analysis/scripts/summarize_issue.py \
+  {ISSUE-KEY} --date-dir .work/weekly-status/{date}
 ```
 
+The script outputs a structured summary with sections for:
+- Issue header (key, summary, status, assignee, current status summary)
+- Descendants (total, completion %, by-status breakdown, updated in range)
+- Changelog entries (formatted as `date by author: field: old -> new`)
+- Comments (non-bot only, with body truncated to 300 chars)
+- PRs (active in range, merged this week, open)
+
+**Script location**: `plugins/jira/skills/status-analysis/scripts/summarize_issue.py`
+
+The underlying JSON file is at `.work/weekly-status/{date}/issues/{ISSUE-KEY}.json` if you need to read additional details not shown in the summary.
+
 ##### b. Analyze Activity (using Status Analysis Engine)
 
 Using the pre-gathered data, apply the activity analysis rules from `activity-analysis.md`:
@@ -546,4 +538,5 @@ See the Jira plugin's skills directory for examples of project-specific customiz
 
 - **Shared skill**: `plugins/jira/skills/status-analysis/SKILL.md`
 - **Data gatherer script**: `plugins/jira/skills/status-analysis/scripts/gather_status_data.py`
+- **Issue summarizer script**: `plugins/jira/skills/status-analysis/scripts/summarize_issue.py`
 - **Single-issue rollup**: `/jira:status-rollup` - Generate comprehensive status comment for one issue
diff --git a/plugins/jira/skills/status-analysis/scripts/gather_status_data.py b/plugins/jira/skills/status-analysis/scripts/gather_status_data.py
index 050827fba..e03feccac 100755
--- a/plugins/jira/skills/status-analysis/scripts/gather_status_data.py
+++ b/plugins/jira/skills/status-analysis/scripts/gather_status_data.py
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ def _build_pr_query(self, pr_refs: List[PRRef]) -> str:
                         reviewDecision
                         reviews(last: 30) {{
                             nodes {{
-                                author {{ login }}
+                                author {{ login ... on User {{ name }} }}
                                 state
                                 body
                                 submittedAt
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ def _build_pr_query(self, pr_refs: List[PRRef]) -> str:
                                 isResolved
                                 comments(first: 5) {{
                                     nodes {{
-                                        author {{ login }}
+                                        author {{ login ... on User {{ name }} }}
                                         body
                                         createdAt
                                         path
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ def _build_pr_query(self, pr_refs: List[PRRef]) -> str:
                                     oid
                                     messageHeadline
                                     committedDate
-                                    author {{ email }}
+                                    author {{ email name }}
                                 }}
                             }}
                         }}
@@ -833,8 +833,10 @@ def _filter_pr_to_range(
         for review in (pr_data.get("reviews", {}).get("nodes") or []):
             submitted = self._parse_datetime(review.get("submittedAt"))
             if submitted and date_range.contains(submitted):
+                author_obj = review.get("author") or {}
                 reviews_in_range.append({
-                    "author": (review.get("author") or {}).get("login", "Unknown"),
+                    "author": author_obj.get("login", "Unknown"),
+                    "author_name": author_obj.get("name") or author_obj.get("login", "Unknown"),
                     "state": review.get("state"),
                     "body": (review.get("body") or "")[:500],
                     "submitted_at": review.get("submittedAt"),
@@ -846,11 +848,13 @@ def _filter_pr_to_range(
             commit = node.get("commit", {})
             committed = self._parse_datetime(commit.get("committedDate"))
             if committed and date_range.contains(committed):
+                commit_author = commit.get("author") or {}
                 commits_in_range.append({
                     "sha": (commit.get("oid") or "")[:7],
                     "message": commit.get("messageHeadline", ""),
                     "date": commit.get("committedDate"),
-                    "author": (commit.get("author") or {}).get("email", "Unknown"),
+                    "author": commit_author.get("email", "Unknown"),
+                    "author_name": commit_author.get("name") or commit_author.get("email", "Unknown"),
                 })
 
         # Filter review comments
@@ -859,8 +863,10 @@ def _filter_pr_to_range(
             for comment in (thread.get("comments", {}).get("nodes") or []):
                 created = self._parse_datetime(comment.get("createdAt"))
                 if created and date_range.contains(created):
+                    comment_author = comment.get("author") or {}
                     review_comments_in_range.append({
-                        "author": (comment.get("author") or {}).get("login", "Unknown"),
+                        "author": comment_author.get("login", "Unknown"),
+                        "author_name": comment_author.get("name") or comment_author.get("login", "Unknown"),
                         "path": comment.get("path"),
                         "line": comment.get("line"),
                         "body": (comment.get("body") or "")[:300],
@@ -1216,6 +1222,7 @@ def _build_manifest(
 
             # Build issue data
             assignee = fields.get("assignee") or {}
+            labels = [l for l in fields.get("labels", []) if isinstance(l, str)]
             issue_data = {
                 "issue": {
                     "key": issue_key,
@@ -1225,6 +1232,7 @@ def _build_manifest(
                         "email": assignee.get("emailAddress"),
                         "name": assignee.get("displayName"),
                     },
+                    "labels": labels,
                     "current_status_summary": fields.get(self.config.status_summary_field),
                     "last_status_summary_update": last_status_update,
                 },
diff --git a/plugins/jira/skills/status-analysis/scripts/summarize_issue.py b/plugins/jira/skills/status-analysis/scripts/summarize_issue.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bfd371067
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/jira/skills/status-analysis/scripts/summarize_issue.py
@@ -0,0 +1,316 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Summarize a pre-gathered issue JSON file for LLM analysis.
+
+Reads a per-issue JSON file produced by gather_status_data.py and prints
+a concise, structured summary suitable for status analysis.
+
+Usage:
+    # By JSON file path:
+    python3 summarize_issue.py .work/weekly-status/2026-03-11/issues/OCPSTRAT-1234.json
+
+    # By issue key (requires --date-dir):
+    python3 summarize_issue.py OCPSTRAT-1234 --date-dir .work/weekly-status/2026-03-11
+
+    # Multiple files:
+    python3 summarize_issue.py .work/weekly-status/2026-03-11/issues/*.json
+"""
+
+import json
+import glob
+import os
+import sys
+
+
+def pr_author(pr: dict) -> str:
+    """Extract author name from a PR's commit or review data."""
+    for commit in pr.get("commits_in_range", []):
+        name = commit.get("author_name")
+        if name:
+            return name
+    for review in pr.get("reviews_in_range", []):
+        name = review.get("author_name")
+        if name:
+            return name
+    return ""
+
+
+def is_significant(d: dict) -> bool:
+    """Check if an issue has significant activity (inline triage logic)."""
+    desc = d["descendants"]
+    prs = d.get("prs", [])
+    changelog = d["changelog_in_range"]
+    comments = d["comments_in_range"]
+    status_summary = d["issue"].get("current_status_summary", "")
+
+    human_comments = [c for c in comments if not c.get("is_bot")]
+    merged_prs = [
+        pr for pr in prs
+        if pr["state"] == "MERGED"
+        and pr.get("activity_summary", {}).get("commits_in_range", 0) > 0
+    ]
+    active_prs = [
+        pr for pr in prs
+        if pr.get("activity_summary", {}).get("commits_in_range", 0) > 0
+        or pr.get("activity_summary", {}).get("reviews_in_range", 0) > 0
+    ]
+    updated_desc = desc.get("updated_in_range", [])
+    status_changes = [
+        c for c in changelog
+        if any(item.get("field") == "status" for item in c.get("items", []))
+    ]
+
+    # Check for color change
+    color_changed = False
+    for entry in changelog:
+        for item in entry.get("items", []):
+            field = item.get("field", "")
+            field_id = str(item.get("fieldId", ""))
+            if "Status Summary" in field or "customfield_12320841" in field_id:
+                for color in ("Red", "Yellow", "Green"):
+                    from_has = color in (item.get("fromString") or "")
+                    to_has = color in (item.get("toString") or "")
+                    if from_has != to_has:
+                        color_changed = True
+
+    return bool(
+        merged_prs or active_prs or status_changes
+        or updated_desc or human_comments or color_changed
+    )
+
+
+def summarize(path: str, date_start: str | None = None) -> None:
+    with open(path) as f:
+        d = json.load(f)
+
+    issue = d["issue"]
+    desc = d["descendants"]
+    prs = d.get("prs", [])
+    changelog = d["changelog_in_range"]
+    comments = d["comments_in_range"]
+
+    # Header
+    print(f"=== {issue['key']}: {issue['summary']} ===")
+    print(f"Status: {issue['status']}")
+    assignee = issue["assignee"]
+    print(f"Assignee: {assignee['name']} ({assignee['email']})")
+    print(f"Current Status Summary: {issue.get('current_status_summary') or 'None'}")
+    print(f"Last Status Summary Update: {issue.get('last_status_summary_update') or 'None'}")
+    print()
+
+    # Descendants
+    print(f"=== Descendants ({desc['total']} total, {desc['completion_pct']:.1f}% complete) ===")
+    print(f"By status: {json.dumps(desc['by_status'], indent=2)}")
+    updated = desc["updated_in_range"]
+    print(f"Updated in range ({len(updated)}):")
+    for u in updated:
+        print(f"  {u['key']} - {u['status']} - {u['summary']}")
+    print()
+
+    # Changelog - formatted readably
+    print(f"=== Changelog in range ({len(changelog)} entries) ===")
+    for c in changelog:
+        items_str = ", ".join(
+            f"{i.get('field', '?')}: {i.get('fromString', '?')} -> {i.get('toString', '?')}"
+            for i in c.get("items", [])
+        )
+        print(f"  {c['date'][:10]} by {c.get('author', '?')}: {items_str}")
+    if not changelog:
+        print("  (none)")
+    print()
+
+    # Comments (skip bots)
+    human_comments = [c for c in comments if not c.get("is_bot")]
+    print(f"=== Comments in range ({len(human_comments)} non-bot) ===")
+    for c in human_comments:
+        body = c["body"].replace("\r\n", " ").replace("\n", " ")[:300]
+        author = c.get("author_name", c["author"])
+        print(f"  {c['date'][:10]} {author}: {body}")
+    if not human_comments:
+        print("  (none)")
+    print()
+
+    # PRs - categorized
+    active = [
+        pr
+        for pr in prs
+        if pr.get("activity_summary", {}).get("commits_in_range", 0) > 0
+        or pr.get("activity_summary", {}).get("reviews_in_range", 0) > 0
+    ]
+
+    # Merged this week: filter by date range start if available
+    if date_start:
+        merged_recent = [
+            pr for pr in prs
+            if pr["state"] == "MERGED"
+            and (pr["dates"].get("merged_at") or "") >= date_start
+        ]
+    else:
+        merged_recent = [pr for pr in prs if pr["state"] == "MERGED" and pr in active]
+
+    open_prs = [pr for pr in prs if pr["state"] == "OPEN"]
+
+    print(f"=== PRs ({len(prs)} total) ===")
+    print(f"Active in range ({len(active)}):")
+    for pr in active:
+        act = pr.get("activity_summary", {})
+        author = pr_author(pr)
+        by = f" by {author}" if author else ""
+        print(f"  #{pr['number']} ({pr['state']}, draft={pr.get('is_draft', False)}){by} - {pr['title']}")
+        print(f"    commits: {act.get('commits_in_range', 0)}, reviews: {act.get('reviews_in_range', 0)}, review_comments: {act.get('review_comments_in_range', 0)}")
+    if not active:
+        print("  (none)")
+
+    print(f"Merged this week ({len(merged_recent)}):")
+    for pr in merged_recent:
+        merged_date = (pr["dates"].get("merged_at") or "")[:10]
+        author = pr_author(pr)
+        by = f" by {author}" if author else ""
+        print(f"  #{pr['number']} merged {merged_date}{by} - {pr['title']}")
+    if not merged_recent:
+        print("  (none)")
+
+    print(f"Open ({len(open_prs)}):")
+    for pr in open_prs:
+        d_flag = " [DRAFT]" if pr.get("is_draft") else ""
+        print(f"  #{pr['number']}{d_flag} - {pr['title']}")
+    if not open_prs:
+        print("  (none)")
+    print()
+
+
+def resolve_path(arg: str, date_dir: str | None) -> str:
+    """Resolve an argument to a JSON file path.
+
+    If arg looks like a file path (contains / or ends with .json), use it directly.
+    Otherwise treat it as an issue key and combine with date_dir.
+    """
+    if "/" in arg or arg.endswith(".json"):
+        return arg
+    if not date_dir:
+        print(f"Error: '{arg}' looks like an issue key but --date-dir was not provided.", file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
+    return os.path.join(date_dir, "issues", f"{arg}.json")
+
+
+def extract_date_start(date_dir: str | None) -> str | None:
+    """Try to read date_range.start from the manifest in the date directory."""
+    if not date_dir:
+        return None
+    manifest = os.path.join(date_dir, "manifest.json")
+    try:
+        with open(manifest) as f:
+            m = json.load(f)
+        return m.get("config", {}).get("date_range", {}).get("start")
+    except (FileNotFoundError, json.JSONDecodeError):
+        return None
+
+
+def parse_flag(args: list[str], flag: str) -> tuple[bool, list[str]]:
+    """Remove a boolean flag from args, return (found, remaining_args)."""
+    if flag in args:
+        args = [a for a in args if a != flag]
+        return True, args
+    return False, args
+
+
+def parse_option(args: list[str], flag: str) -> tuple[str | None, list[str]]:
+    """Remove a --flag VALUE pair from args, return (value, remaining_args)."""
+    if flag not in args:
+        return None, args
+    idx = args.index(flag)
+    if idx + 1 >= len(args):
+        print(f"Error: {flag} requires an argument", file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
+    value = args[idx + 1]
+    args = args[:idx] + args[idx + 2:]
+    return value, args
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    args = sys.argv[1:]
+
+    # Parse flags
+    only_significant, args = parse_flag(args, "--only-significant")
+    date_dir, args = parse_option(args, "--date-dir")
+    label_filter, args = parse_option(args, "--label")
+
+    if not args:
+        print(f"Usage: {sys.argv[0]} <ISSUE-KEY|issue.json|issues-dir/> [...]  [--date-dir DIR] [--only-significant] [--label LABEL]", file=sys.stderr)
+        print(f"Examples:", file=sys.stderr)
+        print(f"  {sys.argv[0]} OCPSTRAT-1234 --date-dir .work/weekly-status/2026-03-11", file=sys.stderr)
+        print(f"  {sys.argv[0]} .work/weekly-status/2026-03-11/issues/OCPSTRAT-1234.json", file=sys.stderr)
+        print(f"  {sys.argv[0]} .work/weekly-status/2026-03-11/issues/ --only-significant --label control-plane-work", file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    # If a single arg is a directory, expand to all JSON files in it
+    if len(args) == 1 and os.path.isdir(args[0]):
+        dir_path = args[0]
+        args = sorted(glob.glob(os.path.join(dir_path, "*.json")))
+        if not date_dir:
+            # Infer date_dir from directory path (parent of issues/)
+            if dir_path.rstrip("/").endswith("/issues"):
+                date_dir = os.path.dirname(dir_path.rstrip("/"))
+            elif os.path.exists(os.path.join(dir_path, "..", "manifest.json")):
+                date_dir = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(dir_path, ".."))
+
+    date_start = extract_date_start(date_dir)
+
+    # Also try to infer date_start from file path if not using --date-dir
+    if not date_start and not date_dir:
+        for arg in args:
+            if "weekly-status/" in arg:
+                inferred_dir = arg.split("/issues/")[0] if "/issues/" in arg else None
+                if inferred_dir:
+                    date_start = extract_date_start(inferred_dir)
+                    break
+
+    # When --only-significant, pre-filter files
+    if only_significant:
+        filtered = []
+        for arg in args:
+            path = resolve_path(arg, date_dir)
+            try:
+                with open(path) as f:
+                    d = json.load(f)
+                if is_significant(d):
+                    filtered.append(arg)
+            except (FileNotFoundError, json.JSONDecodeError):
+                continue
+        skipped = len(args) - len(filtered)
+        args = filtered
+        print(f"=== Batch: {len(args)} significant issues ({skipped} skipped) ===\n")
+
+    # When --label is set, separate issues missing the label
+    unlabeled = []
+    if label_filter:
+        labeled = []
+        for arg in args:
+            path = resolve_path(arg, date_dir)
+            try:
+                with open(path) as f:
+                    d = json.load(f)
+                labels = d.get("issue", {}).get("labels", [])
+                if label_filter in labels:
+                    labeled.append(arg)
+                else:
+                    key = d["issue"]["key"]
+                    summary = d["issue"]["summary"]
+                    unlabeled.append({"arg": arg, "key": key, "summary": summary})
+            except (FileNotFoundError, json.JSONDecodeError):
+                labeled.append(arg)
+        args = labeled
+        if unlabeled:
+            print(f"=== MISSING LABEL '{label_filter}' ({len(unlabeled)} issues) ===")
+            print(f"These issues appeared as descendants but do not carry the '{label_filter}' label.")
+            print(f"Confirm with the user whether to include them in the report.\n")
+            for u in unlabeled:
+                print(f"  {u['key']}: {u['summary']}")
+            print()
+
+    for i, arg in enumerate(args):
+        if i > 0:
+            print("=" * 80)
+            print()
+        path = resolve_path(arg, date_dir)
+        summarize(path, date_start)