GREEN BAY – Off his hand, Jordan Love thought his throw had no chance to be caught.

He saw the coverage. Carrington Valentine blanketed the rookie receiver down the left sideline, matching him stride for stride, like a shadow. Love thought he missed the throw, leaving it too far inside rather than allowing for an over-the-shoulder catch.

Matthew Golden was not open. But sometimes a professional receiver needs to make a play for his quarterback. It’s why the Green Bay Packers drafted Golden in the first round, hoping to surround their quarterback with more targets who can make his job easier. It took one competitive one-on-one period in camp for Golden to show why they thought he was a worthwhile investment.

Sensing Love’s pass drift inside, Golden set up Valentine with an outside track down the sideline. He kept his hands down, not giving away the football’s location. At the last moment, Golden made a sudden lunge inside, cutting underneath Valentine for a 30-yard catch.

“I didn’t think there was a chance,” Love said. “I was like, ‘Oh, CV is going to pick this one.’ MG did a really good job of being able to come back, track the ball inside and go up and high point that ball. I think that’s one of his specialties that I’ve seen so far, is just the aggressiveness in his hands and always going up there and high pointing the ball.

“He’s got very strong hands, and he’s able to go up and compete for that ball. I think that’s one of those things that’s going to separate him.”

Love had good reason to expect an interception. Not only was Valentine in perfect position, but the Packers cornerback also has been a ball hawk with two interceptions through the first week of camp. Valentine also closed last season with takeaways in four straight games. Which made Golden’s one-on-one debut even more impressive.

On his first rep, Golden drew a defensive pass interference when he cut his route outside to the sideline. Valentine had no choice but to impede his progress with a bear hug. On their final rep, Valentine tried to jam Golden off the line. He kept shoving downfield until Golden pushed back. The rookie threw Valentine to the ground before catching a short stop route at the sideline.

Both players could have received an interference flag on the play, but Valentine initiated the contact. Golden finished with the catch anyway

“That’s football,” Golden said. “If a DB pushes off, I feel like a receiver can push off. It goes both ways. He got me at the release, and then after that it was just for me at the top of the route being physical, making a play.”

It’s still early in camp, too early to know what a rookie might do in the fall, but Golden checked every box through his first two days in pads. Route running. Hands. Physicality. What kind of player Golden becomes will depend on consistency and how he handles unavoidable adversity, but the first-round tangibles are evident.

In the first padded practice July 28, Golden beat top corner Keisean Nixon on an out route to the right sideline. Nixon clung to Golden’s hip pocket as Love’s pass arrived. He played through Golden’s hands, competing for the football, but the rookie held on for 26 yards.

“He went up and plucked it,” Love said. “That’s something you want to see, a receiver having those aggressive hands.”

Golden followed his dominant one-on-one reps July 29 by showing he’s also a quick study, making the biggest play in practice. Earlier in the week, the Packers tried to spring their rookie open deep over the middle. Golden said he didn’t sell his eyes on the play, leading the coverage to where he was going.

After practice, he discussed the rep with Nixon and Nate Hobbs, his locker mates and the Packers’ starting corners. They suggested he use his eyes to influence the coverage away from his route. When Golden ran the route July 29, he kept his eyes trained underneath. Golden broke his route downfield when the secondary triggered closer to the line of scrimmage, leaving himself all alone for a 60-yard touchdown.

“He did a much better job selling it,” Love said. “Committing to the first route before he broke out, I think that’s what helped get him open. Those are the easy ones. You just lob it up there for him and let him go finish it.”

It’s why the Packers added Golden to their offense, hoping he could ignite big plays down the field. With Christian Watson not expected to return from his torn ACL for the start of the season, they’ll need a big-play element that was lacking too often last fall.

The Packers aren’t yet through their installation phase of camp. Nobody is ready to crown Golden as a No. 1 receiver after two practices in pads. That Golden has put himself in position to be a key piece in this offense early in his career only enhances the need to accelerate his development.

Golden has made plays on a daily basis, but he’s also adjusting to the NFL’s speed and physicality. Safety Zayne Anderson rerouted him on an in cut July 28, subtly knocking Golden off his spot. When Brenton Cox dropped into Love’s throwing window, his pass arrived high. Golden dropped the football, his only drop since the start of the offseason program, and Hobbs intercepted the deflection.

Those miscues are part of the process in becoming a professional receiver. More than any one play, the Packers surely were pleased with how Golden responded.

“I think the playmaking ability is there,” Love said. “You see that. When the ball is in the air, he’s going to go get it and make that play. It’s just continuing to hone in on the little details and just keep getting better each day.”