The Packers still don’t have a clean answer on Matthew Golden, but the latest injury report at least keeps the door open for Thursday night.
Green Bay listed the rookie receiver as questionable for Week 8 against Carolina after he dealt with shoulder and foot issues and was limited in the days leading up to the game. ESPN’s Adam Schefter passed along the team’s update, which also included DTs Devonte Wyatt (ankle) and Anthony Campbell (ankle), along with edge rusher Brenton Cox Jr. (quadricep), all of them tagged questionable for the Thursday Night Football matchup.
That matters because Golden’s week started in a far worse spot. He opened with a DNP and didn’t practice, but Rob Demovsky of ESPN reported that he was upgraded to limited on Wednesday. For a player whose availability had been in doubt, that’s a meaningful step in the right direction.
It doesn’t guarantee he’ll be out there, but it does suggest the Packers haven’t closed the book on him yet. If he had stayed a DNP, the concern would have grown fast, and Green Bay might have been forced to rule him out for the short-week game.
Instead, the Packers have left themselves a decision to make. And for a team coming off a loss to the Detroit Lions and sitting at 4-3 in last place in the NFC North, that decision carries real weight.
If Golden can’t play, Tucker Kraft, Christian Watson, and Savion Williams would be the main options for Jordan Love in the passing game. For now, though, the update points to a legitimate chance Golden suits up against the Panthers.
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For Carolina, that matters because a team still looking to strengthen its roster cannot afford to ignore a chance to shop where the market suddenly gets a little softer. If Indianapolis is genuinely willing to listen, the Panthers could have a path to players who might fit immediate needs and cost less than they would have just a week ago. The challenge now is figuring out how far the Colts are prepared to go. [Read more 🡒]
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Powers-Johnsons appeal is pretty straightforward for the Panthers: he has experience at right guard and center, and he profiles as either a plug-in starter or a useful depth piece depending on how the rest of the board breaks. Carolinas own roster needs make that kind of flexibility attractive, especially with other teams making moves and the market for interior linemen never really getting simple this time of year. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Linked To Veteran QB Insurance With Deadline Cost Looming
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Carolinas interest, though, is hardly limited to the quarterback room. The Panthers have also been linked to cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Donte Jackson as they look for ways to strengthen a defense that could use more help. So while the quarterback chatter will draw the most attention, the front office seems to be weighing multiple paths as it looks for the right deadline addition without overpaying for the privilege. [Read more 🡒]