One of the most hotly debated players, not only on the Green Bay Packers, but across the entire NFL, is second-year wide receiver Matthew Golden. Everything has been trending in the right direction for the former first-round pick, and after his clutch 19-yard reception in the Packers’ preseason win over the Denver Broncos, the offensive coordinator, Adam Stenavich, made it clear that this was no different than what he had been doing.
Adam Stenavich: “MG has been on fire the last few weeks as far as just like how he’s burning routes with the violence he’s had. Great hands, all that stuff. So it’s been cool to watch
“MG’s been on fire the last few weeks,” Stenavich stated bluntly. “How he’s burning routes with the violence he’s had, great hands, all that stuff. It’s been cool to watch him go out there against probably the best corner in the NFL and do what he did. It’s very encouraging.”
Stenavich is referring to Patrick Surtain, who Golden beat for his 19-yard reception on fourth down.
Packers wide receivers coach Noah Pauley credited his ability to improve his game from a technical standpoint between year one and two as the reason for the training camp breakout.
“Packers WR coach Noah Pauley said the steps that Matthew Golden has taken from a technical standpoint and the things he knows about how to do different things to win on routes is a big step from last year when maybe he relied more on pure talent,” tweeted Rob Demovsky of ESPN.
All signs point to Golden being a breakout for the Packers in 2026.
WR Matthew Golden ‘On Fire’ at Green Bay Packers Training Camp
GettyMatthew Golden #0 of the Green Bay Packers
This is not the first positive sign Golden has received this training camp. NFL Insider Albert Breer was at Packers camp, and one of his biggest takeaways was that he expects the unproven wide receiver to outshine Jayden Reed and Christian Watson as the top receiver on the team.
“Out of the receiver group, with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden as the top three, Golden has the best shot at breaking through, possessing elite hands and downfield speed,” wrote Breer.
The expectation is for Golden to run the routes that Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks were running in the past. Those two had always been near the top of the team in targets due to the quick timing routes.
So, Breer and the coaches noting that Golden has improved from a technical standpoint is major. If he can stay on the same page as Love, he is going to get the ball. If Golden can handle those routes, the spacing that Reed and Watson create should allow for him to be the team’s top wideout.
Golden Can Rebound From Rocky Rookie Season
Golden had a poor rookie season from a first-round pick perspective. Usually, receivers who perform as poorly as Golden are on a bad path. However, Golden was not drafted to play as a rookie.
While the injuries to Watson and Reed opened snaps for him as a rookie, it was not the role he was drafted to play. He is here to complement them, not replace them. So, Golden has all the signs of a breakout. He has flashed, he has pedigree, and he has opportunity coming his way.
Packers Coach Says Former First-Rounder Is ‘On Fire’