The stage was set for a storybook showdown between student and teacher last Sunday night, and it was the successor who put on a show.
Jordan Love played a near-flawless game, throwing for 360 yards and three touchdowns en route to NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. At one point, Love tied the franchise record for consecutive pass completions with 20. In the process, he helped Tucker Kraft flex once again on the primetime stage for “National Tight Ends’ Day” and activated a sleeping giant in the Green Bay Packers’ field-stretching game.
That aforementioned giant was not rookie speedster Matthew Golden. Instead, it was Christian Watson, who kicked off his fourth season with a bang. Watson inked a one-year, $13.25 million extension in September as he entered the final stages of his rehab from a torn ACL suffered late last season. It only took four quarters for that to look like a steal. Watson compiled 85 yards on four key receptions, and it felt like he was only scratching the surface — much like the rest of his career.
Perhaps the only blemish in a statement 35-25 road victory on the national stage was Golden’s lack of involvement. His upward trajectory has yet to vault him into orbit; he caught three passes but totaled just four yards from scrimmage. Some salt in the wound for Agent 0 came when fellow rookie Savion Williams, who the Packers have limited to a few gadgety offensive snaps, found the end zone for his first career touchdown before Golden did. His frustration, which had been building, manifested earlier this week when he deactivated his Instagram account.
The deactivated Instagram has become a staple in both the NFL and NBA to signal discontent with usage or contract negotiations by charging the fanbase with anxiety. After Week 2, many noticed that Golden removed some of his social media content, prompting jokes that the future WR1 was far ahead of schedule with his diva behavior.
His frustration is easy to understand, particularly when looking at some of the clips film nerds have compiled showing him appearing wide open. Will it go over well in Green Bay? Well, that’s another question. Outside of Rodgers’ bumpy departure, the Packers have done a pretty good job running a tight ship. Meanwhile, diva behavior has destabilized several other franchises – including one in Dallas that felt inclined to ship off their best player as a result.
Wideout Romeo Doubs had some frustration last season, leading him to skip practice, and the Packers to suspend him for one game. The rest of the season went relatively smoothly, and he has played his way into extension talks so far this year despite looking like the potential odd man out heading into the season.
Much of the conversation around Golden has focused on how Matt LaFleur’s offense, which is run-heavy to start, distributes the limited number of passing attempts each week. There is a ton of young talent in the receiving room that fans and media have expected a lot of, but target share is a recurring problem for every single one of them.
That likely comes to a head beginning this offseason. It’s hard to imagine Dontayvion Wicks, who has really gotten the short end of the stick, staying around. Doubs may not be far behind him. However, when it comes to Golden’s long-term outlook, it’s clear that Brian Gutekunst pulled the trigger on the Texas product because the offense desperately needed an alpha, go-to target in critical passing situations. Because of the depth they have and the connections Love has spent years developing with Doubs, Kraft, Wicks, Watson, and Jayden Reed, things are just going to take time for Golden.
Many have officially set up camp under the belief that Green Bay’s offense cannot support a WR1. However, it’s worth comparing Golden’s rookie numbers to the last true alpha receiver to wear green and gold. Davante Adams was a second-round pick out of Fresno State, but the Packers immediately cast him to play third fiddle behind Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. He recorded just 446 yards on 38 catches in his rookie season, numbers that Golden is well on pace to eclipse. Of course, we know how that story played out. Adams developed a generational connection with Rodgers, and his piece of the pie grew steadily until he was getting damn near the whole thing, night after night.
It is early days for Matthew Golden. Gutekunst has done a nice job giving Love and LaFleur a limitless supply of young, trustworthy weapons, and catching up to the more established ones is going to take time. From the moment the 2025 season kicked off, it was clear that the Packers are an extremely serious football team. Golden looks more than ready to contribute. He’s just going to exercise a little patience. By the looks of the film, the practice tape, and the social media activity, Green Bay has the diva WR1 they have been begging for.