NFL News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Rutgers Alumni Pushes Packers Closer to Playoffs

Originally posted on The Forkball | By Angela Miele | Last updated 1/1/24

On Sunday night, the Greenbay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings faced off. The two teams are currently pushing for playoffs, but with the Packers win, they are one step closer. One player, a Rutgers Alumni, is a major reason for the win, especially as another receiver exited with an injury. Here’s a look at what Bo Melton did to push the team to a victory.

Bo Melton’s Game for the Packers

Melton ended up being the team’s leading receiver against the Vikings. He will end up going down with six receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown, according to ESPN. His longest reception of the night was for 37 yards. On the touchdown, Melton was able to get wide open for quarterback, Jordan Love to hit him with an easy pass. While the Packers already had the lead, this extended the score difference, putting Greenbay in a comfortable position.

The Rutgers Alumni’s season so far

Melton was drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. He was taken in the seventh round with the 229th overall pick, by the Seattle Seahawks. He has only played for the Packers though, playing in just four games this year. According to ESPN, in those four games, Melton has had 11 receptions for 156 yards and one touchdown, which came against the Vikings. He has also rushed the ball one time for seven yards. This may only reflect four games, but after his night against Minnesota, there is a good chance Melton will be utilized more often moving forward.

Why is this Important for the Packers?

There is just one game left of the regular season for every team in the league. If the Greenbay Packers win this weekend against the Chicago Bears, they will clinch playoffs. The Packers are a very young team, and it has been an up-and-down season for them. The Bears are already eliminated from playoffs, but who knows, they may still want to do what they can to keep their NFC North rival out of playoffs.

During this Packers season, injuries and being simply filled with young players have been an issue. The Rutgers alumni having a good game on Sunday can be bigger than some may think. During Sunday’s game, wide receiver Jayden Reed exited the game, and while X-rays came back negative, according to Ian Rapoport, his status for week 18 is doubtful. There is a chance that Christian Watson will be back in week 18, especially in a must-win game, but this means Melton may be targeted a decent amount.

The Rutgers alumni having a big game gives not only himself confidence, but the team around him too. Love could potentially be more willing to target Melton next week, knowing what he can do in big games. As crazy as it may seem, Melton is the first Greenbay Packer of the season to have over 100 receiving yards in a game. Watch for this Rutgers alumni to continue to help push his team into playoffs. Meanwhile, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights are coming off a Pinstripe Bowl victory against the Miami Hurricanes.

This article first appeared on The Forkball and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: