GREEN BAY – He didn't come right out and say it, but it sounds like Matthew Golden is getting tired of talking about his touchdown in the playoff game against the Bears last January.
"I mean, that one play, I feel like for me it's just a little bit of what I can do," Golden said after Thursday's second practice of training camp. "Obviously I've got great teammates around me. I had a couple guys make some blocks for me and all I had to do was make some guys miss to get in the end zone.
"But I've always got confidence in myself."
Translation: The speedy receiver wants to get on to bigger and better things in Year 2.
All indications are he will, as the Packers trimmed down their receiving corps in the offseason by letting Romeo Doubs leave in free agency and trading Dontayvion Wicks.
He's also begun camp catching everything thrown his way by Jordan Love. Nothing necessarily qualifies as a highlight-reel play just yet, but he's proving tough to cover on the quick outs and stop routes that are sure to set up splash plays to come.
His teammates and coaches are noticing more of the little things, too, like transitioning smoothly from a shallow crossing route to a blocker when the ball goes elsewhere.
"There's only one football to go around, so I think that he's done a great job of just embracing the fact that he can win a rep even without getting the ball on that play," fellow receiver Christian Watson said.
Added Head Coach Matt LaFleur: "I think that says a lot about you as a player. What do you do when you don't have the football? Early indications are promising."
Golden is taking that added value idea to heart, on the heels of an offseason in which the 2025 first-round draft pick focused on building up his well-proportioned 5-11 frame to better withstand the rigors of the NFL.
A couple of minor but nagging injuries forced Golden to miss three games as a rookie and limited him in others, big reasons he caught just 29 passes for 361 yards during the regular season a year ago.
He put together a run of four games from late September through mid-October during which he had 19 of those catches for 233 yards before the injuries hit. Then his season never really got back on track until the playoff game, when he had four catches for 84 yards and the much-discussed 23-yard catch-and-run for his first pro score.
With him, Watson and Jayden Reed forming a clear-cut top trio at receiver now, Golden knows there's more in store for him in his second season. In speaking with reporters, he has repeated phrases like "attack mindset" and "put my best foot forward," which serve as indicators of his focus being more on attitude and approach, less on results.
Those should take care of themselves as he settles into this pared down receiving group that both he and Watson describe as very tight-knit.
"We get together outside of football," Golden said. "We went to Christian's house not too long ago and we were just watching each other's highlights, from college, I mean high school.
"I like where we are right now. I feel like we all got a lot of confidence in each other and the things we can do and I just know when it comes time for game time, we'll be able to lean on each other."
Watching those old highlights, Golden admitted he was impressed by Bo Melton's from his New Jersey roots, but there's a lot to be said for the prep ranks in Texas where he comes from, too.
Melton is a veteran behind the big three, while another 2025 draft pick, Savion Williams, will look to establish himself more in Year 2 as well.
"I think we've got all the potential in the world," Watson said. "So we've got to find a way to turn that potential into success, make those plays, make catches and score touchdowns. But I think we've got everything we need in the receiver room."
Including a promising teammate in Golden, who is ready to make his rookie year, and that touchdown in Chicago, just a footnote to his upcoming career.
"I'm excited, not just for me but for the team we got," Golden said. "I feel like we got a good group … But for me, I know I can do a lot of good things. Whenever my number's called, I know I'm going to be able to perform."
