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Matthew Golden wastes no time showing the skillset that could make him a Packers difference-maker in 2025

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Wendell Ferreira | Last updated Aug 9, 2025 11:47 PM ET

Wide receiver Matthew Golden has made his first reception for the Green Bay Packers. It wasn’t a big play, it wasn’t a big moment. But the circumstances of the game showed exactly why he can be so impactful for the team from the jump.

Throughout the first two drives, the Packers offense had two drops—one from Romeo Doubs, one from Malik Heath. Doubs also couldn’t catch a 50/50 pass against New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, which went incomplete.

Then quarterback Jordan Love targeted the rookie. And Matthew Golden showed his strong hands, a big reason why the Packers took him in the first round.

Matthew Golden's first NFL reception!!! pic.twitter.com/AflMZueV1b
— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) August 10, 2025

Last year, the Packers’ wide receivers were the worst in the NFL in mistakes , which primarily included drops. When Green Bay drafted Golden, general manager Brian Gutekunst stressed how important the young weapon’s reliability would be.

“When you watch him, he arguably has some of the best hands in the draft,” Gutekunst pointed out. “We certainly felt that he could play outside and that was important to us.”

Right after his first catch, Matthew Golden also generated a holding penalty from Sauce Gardner, getting another first down for the Packers. The starting offense couldn’t score, though, in a rough start to the preseason action for the team.

The Packers didn’t have Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Christian Watson, and rookie Savion Williams at wide receiver against the Jets, all of them handling different types of injuries. Golden and Doubs started.

It’s early, and Matthew Golden will still have plenty of time to make mistakes, develop, improve. But his first action shows exactly what he offers, and it’s a skillset the Packers badly need based on what happened last season—and continued to happen in this year’s first preseason game.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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