Report: Matthew Golden will not play vs. Eagles

The Green Bay Packers did not activate one of their practice squad receivers this week, despite the multitude of injuries at the position. This was viewed as a positive sign that the Packers’ questionable pass-catchers could be available on Monday Night against the Philadelphia Eagles. That was until NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported two hours before kickoff that first-round rookie receiver Matthew Golden is not expected to play versus the Eagles due to a shoulder injury.

If Golden is out, the Packers will only have five players available at the position tonight. Jayden Reed, currently on the injured reserve, and Golden were the team’s top options in the slot position. Without either, assume that Savion Williams, who played 11 of his 23 snaps in the slot this season against the Carolina Panthers last week, will get an increased workload in the slot.

Without Golden, here’s what Green Bay receiver room will look like:

• Romeo Doubs
• Christian Watson, who has been on a pitch count since his return from his ACL tear and was limited in all three practices this week
• Dontayvion Wicks, who is currently listed as questionable, has missed the last couple of games with a calf injury and was limited in all three practices this week
• Malik Heath, who popped up on the injury report on Friday with a hip injury and was a limited participant in the final two practices of the week
• Savon Williams, who is currently listed as questionable, was a non-participant with a foot injury on Thursday and was a limited participant in the final two practices of the week

Mind you, this is all coming off the season-ending ACL tear to tight end Tucker Kraft, who has more yards after catch than all of the other Packers’ receivers and tight ends combined. The Green Bay offense has relied on quick-game passing and checkdowns, but Kraft has been the only one who has been able to turn short targets into first-down conversions consistently this year. Now, they’ll be out Kraft entirely and have to rely on a banged-up and short-handed receiver unit to make up the difference against the Eagles.