Packers’ First 100-Yard Receiver? Bo Melton, Of Course

MINNEAPOLIS – The Green Bay Packers hadn’t had a 100-yard receiving game all season.

Not Romeo Doubs, who exited training camp as Jordan Love’s favorite target. Not Christian Watson, with his game-breaking speed. Not rookie Jayden Reed, who quickly emerged as a go-to player. Not rookie Dontayvion Wicks, who came on strong during the second half of the season.

During Sunday night’s blowout victory over the Minnesota Vikings, it was Bo Melton who became the first to hit the century mark. His late catch on a third-down bomb from Sean Clifford gave him six catches for 105 yards.

“I know we had a lot of great receivers in our room,” Melton said. “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.”

Let’s put all of this in perspective:

- Melton was a seventh-round pick by the Seahawks in 2022 who spent most of his rookie season on their practice squad and didn’t appear in a single game.

- The Packers signed Melton off Seattle’s practice squad for the final two games of the 2022 season, but he didn’t play in either of those games, either.

- At the end of training camp this summer, Melton failed to make the 53-man roster and signed to Green Bay’s practice squad.

- For the first 10 games of the season, Melton remained stuck on the practice squad.

- A day before the Thanksgiving game at Detroit in Week 12, he was signed to the 53-man roster and made his NFL debut by playing two offensive snaps.

- A few days later, he was released and re-signed to the practice squad.

- Elevated from the practice squad to play against Tampa Bay in Week 15, Melton caught his first NFL pass for 7 yards.

- Elevated from the practice squad to play against Carolina in Week 16, Melton had a breakthrough game with four catches for 44 yards.

- Elevated from the practice squad again to play against Minnesota in Week 17, Melton caught 6-of-9 targets for 105 yards and his first touchdown.

“It means a lot to me,” Melton said. “I just love competing, love coming out here with my guys, just competing every day. No matter what position I’m in, I’m just going to compete and get better every day. So, 100 yards means a lot to me. I thank the line, quarterbacks, everybody.”

Melton should have had an even bigger game. With the Packers leading 10-0 early in the second quarter, they faced a fourth-and-1 from the Vikings’ 24. Coach Matt LaFleur dialed up a play-action pass, which worked to perfection. Melton was wide open on a corner route but Jordan Love, who was superb all night, led Melton too far and the ball went through Melton’s hands.

Late in the third quarter, the Packers had a third-and-1 from the 9. Melton was wide open again and made an easy catch for his first career touchdown to make it 30-3.

“Coach Steno [offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich] and Coach LaFleur called a great play. Praise to all of them,” Melton said.

“I just seen open space to the right. Jordan did a great job holding the DBs and getting me a great ball. When I saw the ball in the air, I was like I’m coming down with it. There’s nobody around so I had to come down with it. I dropped one earlier and I was pissed off about it. Jordan threw a great ball. I dropped one and I told him, ‘I’ll get you back bro. I can’t leave with that.’”

Melton is out of practice-squad elevations. To get him onto the field against Chicago for the regular-season finale will require the Packers signing him to the 53-man roster. That seems to be a mere formality.

“It is difficult, I’ll say, being on the practice squad,” he said. “I always thought of myself, believed in myself to be a great player. Being on the practice squad, can’t let them days get you down. You have to go out there and practice hard every single day. You never know when your time’s coming. I wanted to be ready for when my time came, and I just thank God for keeping me injury-free and healthy for this moment.”

For Melton, it was the payoff for a lot of behind-the-scenes work that did not go unnoticed.

“From Day 1 that Bo got here, just an unbelievable attitude, unbelievable approach,” LaFleur said. “He’s been team-first all the way, brings great energy, takes great pride in his work. Does a really good job when he wasn’t up just giving great looks and performing well on the show team, giving great looks to the defense, preparing our corners, preparing our defense for whoever the receiver may be that the defense needs to take away. Just really happy for him, because he’s earned it.”