With two games and two wins in the books, the Green Bay Packers look like they could be the NFC’s elite team during the 2025 NFL season. Jordan Love and company are firing on all cylinders while putting the league on notice heading into Week 3.
Although the Packers have performed better than expected during the first two weeks of the 2025 campaign, convincingly beating two talented football teams, the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders, in consecutive weeks, there has been one notable disappointment.
With star wide receiver Jayden Reed out indefinitely after undergoing two surgeries to repair a broken clavicle and a Jones fracture in his left foot, the attention has turned to rookie wideout Matthew Golden to pick up the slack.
Packers Rookie Struggles in Ideal Situation in Green Bay
Unfortunately, the highly touted rookie from Texas has struggled during the first two games of his NFL career. Golden was asked about his early struggles during Thursday’s press availability in the Packers locker room.
First two NFL games that I got and we’re 2-0, so I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Golden said. “I’m just looking forward to the next couple of games we got.”
Over the course of his first two games against the Lions and Commanders, the Packers‘ first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft has caught only two passes for 16 receiving yards. He also had two carries for 15 rushing yards.
“Obviously, you want to make every play that comes your way,” Golden said of his struggles. “You want to make plays. Like I said, we’re 2-0. That’s all I care about. I know whenever my number is called, I’ll be ready. That’s all I’m looking at, so to be able to play with a group of guys like this, we’re just going to keep taking it one game at a time.”
Golden Opportunity to Bounce Back in Week 3
Although Golden’s first two games were forgettable, to say the least, Love will likely continue to try to get him going in the passing game, with an ideal opportunity to have a breakout game against the lowly Cleveland Browns in Week 3 on the road at Huntington Park Stadium on Sunday.
Browns defensive players, like safety Grant Delpit, are determined to contain the Packers‘ offense. As he claims, they’ll stop star running back Josh Jacobs‘ streak of 11 straight games scoring a rushing touchdown. Green Bay is clearly the better team going into this matchup. Golden will certainly have a chance to make an impact in this game in which his team is heavily favored on the road, even with Reed on the mend.
It’ll be interesting to see if Golden can get going in Week 3 against the Browns and make this already potent offense that much more dominant in the coming weeks. The Packers are looking like a legitimate Super Bowl title contender and are in the conversation for being the best team in the NFC. Golden has an opportunity to be Love’s go-to wide receiver while playing alongside Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks.
Packers Rookie Matthew Golden Isn’t Worried About Slow Start: ‘We’re 2-0’