Matthew Golden’s name was met with a roar during the 2025 NFL Draft in April that might still be reverberating outside Lambeau Field. When the Green Bay Packers selected a wide receiver in the first round for the first time in 23 years, the home crowd’s reaction set a high bar for the 22-year-old.

Golden so far has looked every bit like a first-round wide receiver who could one day be the true No. 1 Green Bay hasn’t had since trading Davante Adams in 2022.

The rookie’s combination of stick ’em hands, crisp route running and blazing speed has him primed to be a significant contributor, starting on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. How about that heavyweight matchup for a first career game? The Packers surely won’t crown the kid before he steps on the field for a real game, nor should anybody else, but the beginning of his NFL career has been promising.

“S—, he a hell of a player as far as I can see,” All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney said.

The night Green Bay drafted Golden, general manager Brian Gutekunst said he thought Golden had arguably the best hands in the draft. Golden’s prowess at the catch point has been noticeable and much-needed for one of the worst teams in the NFL at catching the football last season.

Jayden Reed is working his way back from a foot injury and Dontayvion Wicks is doing the same from a calf injury. Christian Watson will miss at least the first four games of the season rehabbing his January torn ACL. That means Golden will be in the spotlight immediately. He looks ready for it, but Sunday will be the first indication whether he actually is.

“He’s advanced,” Reed said of Golden. “The way he’s learned the playbook, just the skill set he has, he’s going to be a dominant player in this league if he continues to lock in on what he needs to lock in on and focus on the playbook and all that kinda stuff. He’s going to be very dominant.”

Matthew Golden: “They said zero never been worn here, so obviously it’s gonna be first time in franchise history. For me, I just wanna make a name for myself and that number.”

Said he always wanted a single digit but didn’t seek it out. No. 0 was presented to the rookie WR. pic.twitter.com/8lfmoynQRc

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) September 3, 2025

Love’s thumb

Quarterback Jordan Love tore the UCL in his left thumb during Green Bay’s first preseason game and missed about a week of practice. Upon his return, he was limited to individual drills and 7-on-7 work while wearing a brace and wrap. He also didn’t take snaps from under center and intentionally did certain handoffs with the wrong hand to protect his thumb.

Love is still wearing a brace and wrap around his left thumb, but said Wednesday that it hasn’t affected him. He added that he’ll be able to hand off with the correct hand come Sunday, but how the thumb handles contact or hitting the ground remains to be determined.

“Getting the strength back and things like that in my thumb has been the biggest thing,” Love said. “The brace and the tape, nothing has been limiting.”

Reed’s plan

The Packers’ third-year receiver didn’t practice Wednesday because of his foot injury, though it seems his DNP was more part of a plan for this week than the result of a setback. Reed said he’ll probably be limited on Thursday and Friday.

“Once my adrenaline running, I’m fine most of the time,” Reed said. “But probably afterwards (is) where I feel it the most.”

Blind side

Packers coaches and Gutekunst emphasized this preseason that the left tackle battle was truly an open competition between incumbent Rasheed Walker and 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan. Walker has started 35 games in the regular season and playoffs at left tackle over the past two seasons and has done well, but Morgan played well at his college position this summer while Walker nursed a groin injury.

When Walker returned to practice, left guard Aaron Banks missed time with a back injury (Banks wasn’t on Wednesday’s injury report). That meant Morgan slid to left guard, and we didn’t get to see who the coaches would pick at left tackle if there were only one spot in the starting lineup available.

Coach Matt LaFleur hasn’t announced a starter yet, but the team’s depth chart lists Walker as the starting left tackle. Walker himself was asked Monday if he’s starting on Love’s blind side against the Lions.

“Yes,” he said bluntly.

Parsons’ impact

We’ll have an X’s-and-O’s story about Micah Parsons’ influence on the Packers defense posting on Friday, but in between the white lines isn’t the only place his arrival has boosted the team. Love sounded giddy just discussing the crowd reaction Parsons’ pregame introduction will draw if Lambeau Field announces the defensive starters on Sunday.

“They gotta do defense,” Love said. “Micah last, you know what I mean? Crowd’s gonna go crazy. I already see it. I already see it. Defense go out there first. Get a three-and-out. Micah get a sack on third down. I already see it.”

Such a monumental move has also sent a jolt through the locker room.

“Personally, it makes me want to do my part, do my job even better,” Walker said. “I’m really looking forward to competing in practice knowing that I’m going to get better going against more competition, and shoot, I feel like it makes me and the team more hungry for that Super Bowl.”

Parsons was limited in Wednesday’s practice because of a back injury, though Love spoke about his good friend like he’ll play on Sunday. LaFleur said Wednesday that he’s “certainly hopeful” Parsons will face the Lions but that the team needs to first see how their new star pass rusher makes it through practice this week.

“He’s doing everything in his power,” LaFleur said. “He’s rehabbing hard.”

Parsons said last Friday during his introductory news conference in Green Bay that he felt “great” and the Packers didn’t give up what they did for him to sit on the sidelines.