Packers WR Matthew Golden shows 'elite hands' on preseason catch

Green Bay Packers receiver Matthew Golden showed off his "elite hands" on a catch against the Denver Broncos during Friday night's preseason win.

On the opening drive, Golden beat Patrick Surtain II in a foot race on a crossing route from left to right, adjusted the route late to create a throwing window for Jordan Love and then made an all-hands catch away from his body while still accelerating up the field. Oh, and the difficult catch came on 4th-and-1, extending a drive that eventually ended up in the end zone.

"I think he has elite hands," coach Matt LaFleur said Monday. "That catch he made in Denver on the crossing route that kind of showed to it. It was a good savviness by him, he felt an underneath defender and he bled up the field. I think it was a good ball especially because he changed the angle on Jordan. But to make that catch and not lose stride, a low hands catch, I think that speaks to just how good his hands really are."

Here's the play:

this Jordan Love guy is neat pic.twitter.com/0VdHffVOAO

Golden's speed is obvious here. He's given a free release and runs away from the defender with ease, creating easy separation. The awareness to slightly alter the route upfield to avoid the approaching defender allowed a bigger throwing window for Love. And then Golden was able to adjust to the throw, make the catch and continue up the field.

It's just one rep, but it's an impressive one nonetheless for a player many are expecting to enjoy a second-year breakout in 2026.

There's also this rep from Golden:

Matthew Golden and one.

(He looks extremely fast on his other reps.) pic.twitter.com/O3hikJ0ADA

Operating from the slot, Golden wins off the ball easily, using an outside first step to get the defender leaning before cutting back inside. The coverage player could do nothing but grab as Golden accelerated by. Despite the contact, Golden immediately got his head around, found the football and made the catch, which required a quick reaction given the timing disruption of the hold. The catch was negated by a pass interference penalty that moved the chains.

"MG has been on fire the last few weeks as far as just like how he's burning routes with the violence he's had. Great hands, all that stuff," offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. "So it's been cool to watch him again go out there against probably the best corner in the NFL and do what he did. Yeah, it's very encouraging.”

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers WR Matthew Golden shows 'elite hands' on preseason catch