Packers Get Bad News on Star Rookie Before ‘SNF’ vs. Steelers
The Green Bay Packers could be without their top rookie due to an injury when they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers for Sunday Night Football in Week 8.
After Friday’s practice, the Packers added first-round rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden to their injury report with a hip injury and designated him as questionable to play against the Steelers on Sunday after he started the week as a full participant.
The Packers could still clear Golden to play against the Steelers, but his injury popping up in the middle of the week — and threatening his availability — is mildly concerning. Even if the team believes it is not a long-term issue, it could impact how much they are willing to play Golden on Sunday if they are worried about making the problem worse.
Golden has the third-most receptions (18), receiving yards (249) and targets (23) for the Packers through the first seven weeks of the season, but they also have a plethora of quality pass-catchers dotting their roster who could pick up the slack if Golden sits out.
The Packers (4-1-1) will kick off against the Steelers (4-2) at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Matthew Golden Had Started to Break Out for Packers
Golden’s injury comes at an unfortunate time for the rookie, even if he plays Sunday.
Golden has gradually become a more vital part of the Packers’ passing offense over the past month. After seeing just four targets combined in his first two NFL games, he has received at least four targets in each of his last four games, catching 16 passes for 233 yards and emerging as one of starting quarterback Jordan Love’s new favorites.
Golden has also yet to drop a single pass six games into his NFL career, underscoring another reason (reliable hands) why the Packers selected him with the No. 23 pick.
Fortunately, there is still hope that Golden’s hip injury is minor. The Packers have not yet commented on the nature or extent of it, as head coach Matt LaFleur spoke to the media before the team added Golden to the injury report following Friday’s practice.
If the Packers rule out Golden in Sunday’s pregame, though, it will spark more concern for his status moving into Week 9 — and the second half of the 2025 regular season.
Christian Watson Activated PUP List for Week 8 Game
The Packers would take a hit if they did not have Golden available against the Steelers in Sunday night’s prime-time matchup, but they will have back Christian Watson.
In a series of Saturday roster moves, the Packers activated wide receiver Christian Watson from the reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list, clearing the way for him to return to the field for the first time since he tore his ACL early last January.
The Packers could potentially hold Watson to a pitch count in his first game back, but his availability should help alleviate concerns with Golden’s injury status. He can either split the reps with Golden in the “Z” receiver role if both play against the Steelers, or he can pick up the slack and take over for Golden entirely if the latter is ruled out.
Steelers-Packers Is Definitely More Than Just About Aaron Rodgers As Adam Schefter Reveals Why It's A Crucial Game For Pittsburgh
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to face the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football in what could be one of the best football games that the NFL could see all season. This matchup will mark the first time that future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers will face his old team, with which he spent 18 seasons (2005-2022). In 15 years as the Packers' starter, he guided them to 11 playoff appearances, eight division titles, five NFC Championship Game appearances, and a Super Bowl victory. By most accounts, he was arguably the greatest player in the history of the franchise.
While the Rodgers effect makes this game fascinating, ESPN insider Adam Schefter thinks this matchup is most significant because of the impact that it could have on the Steelers' season. This is what he had to say Thursday morning via
"It will be personal (for Rodgers) to a certain extent. It's also an important game for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who lost last week to Cincinnati. They have the Baltimore Ravens coming off their bye with a friendly second-half schedule," Schefter said. "It's more important for the Steelers to get back on track to make sure they are in front in the AFC North."
If you are an NFL fan or a historian of the game, this matchup has the chance to be quite the spectacle for so many reasons. These are two of the greatest franchises in the history of the sport. They don't play very often. Both are leading their respective divisions with four wins. Both have Super Bowl aspirations. Of course, Rodgers facing his old head coach in Matt LaFleur, his old understudy in Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love, and seeing a lot of familiar faces is a massive piece of this particular story.
However, to Schefter's point, this is a very key game when you look at what is ahead for Pittsburgh. It will be vital to continue to keep a strong lead in the AFC North.
Steelers Fans Will Learn Plenty About Their Team Over Next Four Weeks
While Head Coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers are preparing to face the only one-loss team in the NFC this week, they will have to prepare for the only one-loss team in the AFC next week. That would be, as of right now, the Indianapolis Colts. If they can find a way to survive both of these two games at home, they will then have to travel out west to face head coach Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers. Then, they will return home to face the rival Cincinnati Bengals, who, thanks to the help of 40-year-old Joe Flacco, torched Pittsburgh for 470 total yards of offense and 33 points in Week 7. Of course, Cincinnati is now just a game back in the race for the division after pulling off the upset last Thursday night.
For the players and coaches involved, Packers-Steelers is just another game, especially when you consider the high hopes that both teams have for their respective seasons. The Packers are trying to stay ahead of the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears in the NFC North. Pittsburgh, again, is trying to stave off the scrappy Bengals for now. Furthermore, the Baltimore Ravens, who have started off the 2025 season at a surprising record of 1-5, could potentially catch fire at any moment. On the other side, if you are a true fan of the game and enjoy its history, seeing Rodgers face his old team after it decided that it no longer required his services beyond the 2022 season could provide you enough drama to create a Broadway play.
However, in the end, all the fans of Pittsburgh want is to see their team get back on track. What should give them some hope is that when former Packers star quarterback Brett Favre, who was with the Minnesota Vikings, faced his former team for the first time on
