After a slow start to what was expected to be a big year, Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden has begun to show signs of being the deep-ball weapon the team hoped he would be when it used a first-round draft pick on him in April.
Golden caught four passes for 52 yards, with a long of 34 yards in Week 3. In Week 4, he had five catches for 58 yards, with a long of 46 yards. On Sunday in Green Bay’s 27-18 win over the Bengals coming off the Packers’ bye week, Golden had his best game as a pro, making three catches for a season-high 86 yards, and made the play of the game.
That came with 2:32 to play and the Packers, clinging to a 24-18 lead, facing a third-and-9 from their own 40-yard line. Packers quarterback Jordan Love found Golden streaking near the left sideline, and Golden made the catch tumbling out of bounds. That set up a game-sealing field goal for the Packers.
Matthew Golden Gaining Trust of Jordan Love
Love was 19-for-26 for 259 yards passing and one touchdown on Sunday, as the team moved to 3-1-1 on the season. While Romeo Doubs (five catches on nine targets) remains Love’s favorite target and running back Josh Jacobs (18 carries, 93 yards rushing; five catches, 55 yards) is still the barometer of the offense, Golden is increasingly becoming the defense-stretching deep-ball target.
“He adds another explosive playmaker,” Love said. “Both really explosive plays, with the go ball down the sideline (35 yards in the second quarter), and then that last play there to him. He is a guy we’re going to keep trying to get going and keep finding ways of getting him the ball. He’s done some very good things.
“It’s always about spreading it around. He’s definitely a very explosive playmaker. Just gotta keep finding ways to get it to him.”
GettyGreen Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love
Packers Getting Another Explosive Weapon Back
The prospect was raised, too, of the Packers soon getting receiver Christian Watson back on the field now that he is nearing the end of his rehab from ACL repair surgery early this year. Watson is among the fastest players on the team, when healthy.
Love smiled at that notion, and about how many more explosive plays the team could lodge with Watson back.
“Oh man, I think there is definitely still room to make even more bigger plays,” Love said. “We’ve done a good job hitting some of them. You add Christian Watson back to the mix and I think we can do some real damage. We’re always trying to find ways to create those explosive plays and push the ball down the field and put the pressure on the defense.
“You add another speed guy like Christian, we’re gonna open this thing up. I think there are more plays we can hit on.”
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