Packers receive major relief ahead of “Thursday Night Football,” and nobody is happier than Jordan Love
Wide receiver Matthew Golden carries a questionable tag into the Week 8 game against the Panthers after a short week of walkthroughs.
The Green Bay Packers received a major boost ahead of their Week 8 matchup against the Carolina Panthers on “Thursday Night Football,” and quarterback Jordan Love should be the happiest person in the building. Wide receiver Matthew Golden is trending toward playing Thursday night.
Golden has been a revelation for the Packers after a quiet rookie season, so his availability matters a lot in a moment where Green Bay’s wide receiver depth is already stretched thin.
How the Packers got to this point with Matthew Golden
The short week left the Packers with almost no time to practice. Green Bay didn’t practice on Monday and held walkthroughs on Tuesday and Wednesday. Golden did not participate on Monday or Tuesday. He was upgraded to a limited participant on Wednesday and was officially listed as questionable for the game.
On Thursday morning, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Golden is trending toward playing against the Panthers. That was already the expectation to some extent. The fact that Golden got back on the field in a limited capacity Wednesday was a good sign for his status.
The Packers still have until late Thursday afternoon to make roster decisions. Green Bay could promote someone from the practice squad to the 53-man roster or use a practice squad elevation for the game. Any of those moves could also give a hint about Golden’s final status. For now, the expectation is that he will play, and that is a big development for Green Bay.
Thin depth at wide receiver
Golden’s status is particularly relevant because the Packers have already lost so much at the position.
Jayden Reed is out for the season with a neck injury. During the offseason, Green Bay moved on from both Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks. On top of that, Skyy Moore is on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
That leaves limited depth beyond Golden. The Packers still have Christian Watson, who has been one of the top wide receivers in the NFL this season. Savion Williams has also become an important part of the offense over the past two weeks, and he could see a bigger role against Carolina.
Beyond those names, though, the picture gets murky. The only other wide receivers on the 53-man roster are Bo Melton, undrafted rookie J. Michael Sturdivant, and punt returner Coleman Owen. Without Golden, the Packers would have to lean on players who have barely factored into the offense, which would put a lot more pressure on Love and the passing game.
Favorable matchup versus banged-up secondary
The timing could hardly be better for Green Bay. The Panthers are dealing with major injury problems on defense, especially at cornerback. Carolina has only two healthy cornerbacks on its 53-man roster, Will Lee III and Chau Smith-Wade, and it could also make moves ahead of the game.
Former Packer Robert Rochell has already been elevated three times, so the expectation is that Marco Wilson will be elevated. Rochell could theoretically be promoted. The other PS options are Zion Childress, DeVonta Smith, Corey Thornton, and recently-signed Ja’Markis Weston. Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson are on IR, while Akayleb Evans has been ruled out for this game.
That creates a clear opportunity for the Packers’ passing attack. With Watson, Golden, and Williams all available, Green Bay can stress a depleted secondary with multiple receivers instead of relying on one or two options. Short weeks are always tough, and the lack of practice time is a real concern for any team. Still, getting Golden back on the field would be a huge lift for the Packers on Thursday night.
