Packers Rule Out Rookie WR Matthew Golden for MNF Showdown Against Eagles

11Nov

The Green Bay Packers delivered a gut punch to their playoff hopes just hours before kickoff on Monday Night Football Lambeau Field — rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden III was ruled out with a lingering shoulder injury. The news, confirmed by Tom Pelissero, National NFL Insider for NFL Network, came just two hours before the 8:00 PM ET kickoff. Golden, the Packers’ first-round pick (23rd overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft, had been fighting to play through pain all week. But when he missed Friday and Saturday practices entirely, the team made the call: no risk, no reward. He won’t suit up against the Philadelphia Eagles, the reigning Super Bowl LVIX champions. And with tight end Tucker Kraft already out for the season after tearing his ACL in Week 9, the Packers’ offense is now in freefall.

Another Blow to an Already Struggling Offense

Golden’s absence isn’t just a loss of a promising rookie — it’s the latest domino to fall. He appeared in all eight games this season, hauling in 23 catches for 262 yards and adding 45 rushing yards on eight carries. No touchdowns yet, but he was becoming a reliable target, especially on crossing routes and slants. His speed and route precision were starting to unlock the middle of the field. Now, with Jayden Reed on injured reserve and fellow receivers Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and Savion Williams (foot) questionable, the Packers’ depth chart looks like a middle school JV team. Even Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, the veterans, are being asked to carry a load they weren’t designed for.

Head coach Matt LaFleur didn’t sugarcoat it. "It’s just one of those deals that he’s fighting to play," LaFleur said Friday. "We’ll see how he is feeling today. He’s gotta be able to handle that everything that is thrown at him. No setback — this is totally day-by-day." But the silence after Saturday’s practice said more than any quote could. When a first-round pick can’t even jog through a walkthrough, you know the shoulder isn’t just sore. It’s compromised.

The Eagles’ Revenge Tour

The timing couldn’t be worse. The Philadelphia Eagles aren’t just any opponent — they’re the defending Super Bowl champions, riding a six-game winning streak, and hungry to send a message to the NFC North. Their defense, led by Jaire Alexander (who’s inactive against his former team), has been stingy all season. With Golden out, the Packers’ passing game loses its most dynamic weapon since Week 1. And without Kraft, the tight end who was becoming Aaron Rodgers’ security blanket in the red zone, the offense has no reliable target in the middle of the field.

Enter Luke Musgrave. The second-year tight end, who had just 11 receptions all season before Week 10, is now the primary target in seam routes. Running back Josh Jacobs — acquired in a blockbuster trade — will see more targets than ever. But Jacobs isn’t a receiver. He’s a power back. And the Eagles know it.

What This Means for the Playoff Race

The Packers entered Week 10 at 5-4. The Eagles? 6-3. A loss here doesn’t just drop them to 5-5 — it drops them behind three other NFC teams in the wild-card race. With the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions surging, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lurking, Green Bay can’t afford to stumble again. Especially not with their quarterback situation still unsettled. Jordan Love is playing well, but he needs weapons. He doesn’t have them anymore.

Meanwhile, the Eagles — who crushed the Packers 31-12 in their last meeting in 2024 — are now favored by 7.5 points. And they know it. The Green Bay Packers Football Corporation has been a model of stability for decades. But right now? They’re unraveling.

Behind the Scenes: A Team in Crisis

This isn’t just about injuries. It’s about depth. The Packers’ front office didn’t draft enough offensive talent in 2024 and 2025 to cover for expected attrition. Golden was supposed to be the solution. Now, he’s another casualty. And with Zach Tom (back) barely cleared to play, and defensive end Lukas Van Ness and cornerback Nate Hobbs also sidelined, the Packers’ roster is stretched thinner than ever. The injury report for Week 10 listed seven key players as questionable. Four didn’t play. That’s nearly a third of the starting offense and defense.

"It’s not about one guy," said a veteran locker room source who spoke anonymously. "It’s about the whole system breaking down. We’ve got guys playing out of position. We’ve got guys taking snaps they’ve never taken in practice. And we’re supposed to beat the defending champs? Good luck."

The Packers’ offense has scored 17 or fewer points in five of their last six games. The defense has been decent — but not enough. Without Golden, without Kraft, without Reed — the magic is gone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Matthew Golden’s injury affect the Packers’ 2025 playoff chances?

Golden’s absence drops the Packers’ offensive ceiling significantly. With no reliable deep threat or intermediate target, defenses can focus on Josh Jacobs and Luke Musgrave, making it easier to contain Aaron Rodgers’ successor, Jordan Love. Green Bay’s playoff probability, which stood at 62% before Week 10, now drops below 40% according to FiveThirtyEight’s model. A loss to Philadelphia would make their path to the postseason far more difficult, requiring wins in five of their final seven games — including road trips to Minnesota and Detroit.

Why was Matthew Golden considered such a high draft pick?

Golden was the first wide receiver the Packers selected in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002. Scouts praised his route precision, body control in traffic, and ability to separate after the catch. He ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the combine and had 18 touchdowns in his final college season at Texas A&M. His 23 receptions for 262 yards in just eight NFL games showed he could translate that production immediately — making his injury even more devastating for a team desperate for offensive firepower.

What’s the timeline for Golden’s return?

The Packers have not released an official timeline, but sources say the shoulder injury is not structural — no labrum tear or dislocation. It’s a lingering sprain with inflammation that hasn’t responded to rest. Most experts estimate a 4-6 week recovery window. That means Golden could return in late December, possibly for the final two games against the Bears and Lions. But even then, he’d need time to regain timing with the quarterback. His 2025 season is effectively over.

How does this impact the Packers’ 2026 draft strategy?

If the Packers miss the playoffs, they could land a top-10 pick in 2026 — potentially the highest they’ve had since 2018. That gives them a golden opportunity to draft another wide receiver, perhaps even a top prospect like Oregon’s Xavier Johnson or Alabama’s Ja’Corey Brooks. But they’ll also need to address offensive line depth and tight end depth. This season’s injury cascade has exposed a critical lack of roster depth — something GM Brian Gutekunst will have to fix this offseason, or risk another collapse.

Has a Packers rookie ever missed a key game due to injury after a strong start?

Yes — and it’s hauntingly similar. In 2018, first-round pick Jaire Alexander missed the final four games with a shoulder injury after recording three interceptions in his first six games. The Packers lost three of those games and missed the playoffs. The same pattern is emerging: a highly-touted rookie shows promise, then gets hurt at the worst possible time, and the team’s momentum dies. The parallels are too strong to ignore.

What’s the Eagles’ strategy going into this game?

Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator, Sean Desai, is expected to play a lot of two-high safety looks, daring Jordan Love to beat them with short passes and runs. They’ll overload the box to contain Josh Jacobs and force Green Bay’s remaining receivers — Watson and Doubs — to make one-on-one plays. With Golden out, the Eagles know Love won’t have the luxury of spreading the field. Expect lots of blitzes from edge rusher Haason Reddick and tight coverage from Darius Slay on the outside. This game is about suffocation.