The Green Bay Packers win saw a second straight 33-point performance against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night. For the leading receiver of the game, being able to outgain counterpart Justin Jefferson has come through something of an improbable path. Yet as the Green Bay Packers now sit on the brink of a playoff birth, the second-year receiver will be looking to build off of his latest performance.
Green Bay Packers Second-Year Man
What has often been a frustrating and inconsistent Green Bay Packers offense this season saw its first 100-yard performer Sunday night. Seventh-round draft pick Bo Melton was a late 2022 draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks and has worked his way up from the practice squad. He is looking to now be an integral target for Jordan Love as their season continues at home against the Chicago Bears.
After being claimed by the Green Bay Packers, Melton had to work himself into the rotation as he was again placed on the practice squad coming out of training camp. It was a place he continued to inhabit for over half of the season.
Despite his initial limited opportunities, it was Melton who received the deep pass from Sean Clifford late in the game as the Green Bay Packers closed out the win. More than an eclipsed century mark, Melton explained the range of emotions he was going through after the game.
I know we had a lot of great receivers in our room. It’s just amazing. I don’t have any words for it. I’m just happy to be in this position, happy to have a team that believed in me to go out here and play.
And this is what shows what it means to play in the NFL in a reserved role. You never know when your opportunity will come or what will lead to the coaches asking you to suddenly be out there on the field to make a play. But when the opportunity arises, those who take advantage can find themselves part of a potential storied run.
Green Bay Packers Receiver To Date
Leaving 2023, Melton has 11 career receptions. But in an expected way that his career has played out up until this point, those 11 catches have all come in the last three weeks, with six of them coming Sunday against the Vikings.
His touchdown came on a third and one in the red zone. Off of a Jordan Love pass, Melton found him about as open as you can be in the endzone in between two Vikings defenders who lost him in coverage.
Before joining the NFL the New Jersey native went to college in his home state by attending Rutgers. Steadily building throughout his college career, Melton capped off his senior season with 55 catches, 618 yards, and a three-touchdown year.
With a 4.34 official combine speed, he showed his ability to set up corners, find open space, and make contested catches, steadily improving throughout his college career. Now with a Jordan Love led offense, who also looks to be improving, the two youngsters will be hoping for a continuation of the track that they appear to both be on.
