After slow going to start the season, Packers rookie Matthew Golden has begun to build up some steam in recent weeks, with 16 catches in his last four games as he gets more comfortable in the offense and quarterback Jordan Love gets more comfortable throwing to him.
Golden, of course, was the Packers’ first-round draft pick this season, the first time the team used a No. 1 pick on a receiver since Javon Walker in 2002. The pick was seen as an acknowledgement of the team’s need to establish a hierarchy in the receivers’ room, which has talent but not much order. It helped, too, that Golden ran a 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the combine, boosting a Packers team that needs speed among its playmakers.
But there was some concern about Golden heading into the Sunday night national game against the Steelers, as a late-developing hip injury in practice on Friday pushed the team to list him as “questionable” heading into the game.
Matthew Golden Had a Hip Issue
On Sunday morning, though, insider Ian Rapoport of NFL Media wrote on Twitter/X that Golden would be ready to take the field, giving the Packers an intriguing speed duo, as receiver Christian Watson is also slated to be on the field.
Watson tore his ACL in the final week of the 2024 season, and will be making his 2025 debut.
Wrote Rapoport: “#Packers WR Matthew Golden, listed as questionable with a hip injury, is expected to play today. He’ll join Christian Watson, who was activated Saturday from PUP and will play.”
GettyPackers wide receiver Christian Watson.
Packers’ Golden-Christian Watson Pairing Brings Speed
Injuries have kept Watson from establishing himself as the WR1 he appeared to be early in his career, but last season, he left his mark as a deep threat. He logged 620 yards on just 29 catches, a 21.4 yards per reception rate which went down as the Packers’ best season rate since James Lofton logged 22.0 yards per catch in 1984.
That is a factor that must be taken into consideration for Packers opponents, starting with the Steelers. Watson said this week that, even if he does not put up big numbers right away, he can still impact the offense.
“I feel like just me being out there is going to help open everybody up,” Watson said. “I think they’ll have to obviously respect my ability to beat them deep, for sure. It’s just another person that they have to be wary of, regardless. I’ve made plays in my career and, obviously, defenses have to respect that.”
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