GREEN BAY – Matthew Golden already has a knack for making history during his brief time with the Packers.
After becoming the first receiver Green Bay has drafted in the first round in 23 years, Golden is now the first to wear No. 0 in a green-and-gold jersey.
The rookie wideout debuted his new number on the practice field this week, as preparations began for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.
Golden previously wore No. 2 at every level of football he's played but switched to "22" because his collegiate number belonged to Packers quarterback Malik Willis.
Keen on having a single-digit number, Golden was informed this week he could be the first Packers player to wear No. 0 since the NFL started allowing teams to issue the number in 2023.
That's all Golden needed to hear.
"I talked to them about the numbers, and they said '0' has never been worn here," Golden said. "Obviously, it's going to be a first time in franchise history. For me, I just want to make a name for myself in that number."
Whether it's "22" or "0," the 5-foot-11, 191-pound wideout has made a fast and emphatic first impression since the Packers selected him 23rd overall in April's NFL Draft.
The 4.29 speed immediately jumps off the page, but Golden also has demonstrated strong hands, instinctive body control and a solid grasp of the Packers' offense.
Running with the No. 1 unit all summer, Golden made arguably the offensive play of the preseason with a remarkable catch on a 39-yard pass from Willis early in Green Bay's 20-7 win over the Seattle Seahawks in the teams' Aug. 23 finale.
After all the injuries the Packers have weathered at receiver, the 22-year-old wideout is now positioned to make a Year 1 impact.
"It's a credit to him and certainly our coaches of getting them schooled up," said LaFleur of Golden. "Unfortunately, we've had a lot of guys miss time, but I would say the byproduct of that is he gets more opportunity, and he was able to take advantage of those opportunities throughout the course of not only the offseason program, but throughout training camp."
The Packers are hopeful they've started to put the nicks and bruises behind them. Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and third-round pick Savion Williams (concussion/hamstring) are practicing again, albeit in a limited capacity, after missing a significant portion of camp.
Jayden Reed's status remains up in the air after being in and out of practice with a lingering foot injury that sidelined the Packers' leading receiver the past two years during Wednesday's padded workout.
Reed plans to press on and told reporters in the locker room after practice he hopes to take "some limited reps" this week.
"Once my adrenaline's running, I'm fine most of the time, but probably afterwards is where I feel it the most," Reed said of his foot. "While I'm out there running during the play my adrenaline's running pretty well so I don't feel it as much."
Regardless of who's available, Golden will have a key part to play in a pivotal home opener against the two-time reigning NFC North champion Lions, who swept last year's season series.
Golden said he's been briefed on the rivalry and understands the importance of holding serve in the Packers' first Week 1 opener at Lambeau since Golden's sophomore year at Klein Cain (Texas) High School in 2018.
Overall, Golden felt he had a solid first NFL training camp. He may not have gotten the optimal amount of reps with Jordan Love due to a procedure the Packers' starting QB underwent on his left thumb, but he's excited to play with Love and feels their chemistry is "where it needs to be" heading into the season.
Right now, Golden is keeping things simple – no different than how he approached his first summer in Green Bay.
"Definitely just doing my job," Golden said. "Don't try to put too much pressure on myself and just knowing that I need to be where I need to be for the quarterback, for the offense, and definitely in the run game. I feel like as long as I have that mindset to have the fundamentals right, I'll be in a good place."
The switch to "0" undoubtedly will write a few headlines this week, but it's merely window dressing to the real story that begins the moment Golden runs out of the home tunnel at Lambeau Field to play in his first NFL regular-season game.
That experience is what this is all about.
"A dream come true," Golden said. "Just a kid, fell in love with football when I was around 8. Put in so much work every day for this moment now. I feel like for me, the hard work paid off. Now, I just have to go out there and have fun."
