Thursday Cheese Curds: Game slows down for Golden, Taylor brings poise

TL;DR

Tyrod Taylor has signed with the Green Bay Packers as a backup quarterback, bringing 15 years of NFL experience. Second-year wide receiver Matthew Golden is also showing improvement and confidence as he prepares for the upcoming season.

Key points

Tyrod Taylor signed with the Green Bay Packers as a backup quarterback.
Taylor has 15 years of NFL experience and has played in 100 games.
Matthew Golden is focusing on improving his understanding of the game.
Golden is gaining confidence as he prepares for his second NFL season.
The Packers are looking for a different dynamic in their backup quarterback role.

Mentioned in this story

Tyrod TaylorMatthew Golden

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 14: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Houston Texans stands under center in the first half against the Green Bay Packers during the preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 14, 2021 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images Beyond their class of rookies, the Green Bay Packers have another new face in the building this week. Tyrod Taylor signed with the Packers to be the backup quarterback behind Jordan Love this season, answering at least one significant question about the team’s plans for the roster in 2026. Taylor comes with a lengthy resumé, having played in 100 NFL games and started 62 of those over his 15-year career. The Packers will be his 8th team, and the one-time Pro Bowler has historically done a very good job taking care of the football throughout his career. Having an experienced set of eyes holding the clipboard gives the Packers a bit of a different look from the backup situation the last two years. Malik Willis was a dynamic player with his legs and was able to make the occasional big play with his big arm; Taylor is much more of a conventional quarterback, especially these days. But his experience and knowledge of the game should be a benefit to Love and the coaching staff on gamedays, even if he never takes a snap from center. Knowledge of the game is the theme for another key Packers player as well, namely second-year wide receiver . After a rookie year that was a bit disappointing, Golden is focused this offseason on understanding everything better so he can just go out and play fast. It’s a common refrain from rookies heading into their second NFL seasons, and it’s one of the big reasons why former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was so fond of talking about the “second-year jump” he expected to see from his young players. Here’s more on Golden, Taylor, and other Packers-related topics as we approach the tail end of the week. The mental aspect of the game is slowing down for Golden after he admitted his head was swimming a bit as a rookie. The question will always be whether Lloyd can avoid injury, but even running backs coach Ben Sirmans is preaching caution with his optimism: “We’re very optimistic, but we’ve all been optimistic before, so we just gotta wait and see what’s going to happen.” The answer is simple: experience and composure. Do you agree that depth at edge rusher is the top need, as suggested here? The first Packers-Bears game, wherever it takes place, is number 3 on this list. We’re beefin’ over tomatoes!

Q&A

What experience does Tyrod Taylor bring to the Green Bay Packers?

Tyrod Taylor has played in 100 NFL games and started 62, offering the Packers valuable experience as a backup quarterback.

How is Matthew Golden improving ahead of the 2026 NFL season?

Matthew Golden is focusing on understanding the game better, which is helping him gain confidence as he enters his second year.

Why did the Packers sign Tyrod Taylor as their backup quarterback?

The Packers signed Tyrod Taylor for his experience and composure, providing a different dynamic compared to their previous backup, Malik Willis.

What challenges did Matthew Golden face during his rookie season?

Matthew Golden admitted that his head was 'swimming' during his rookie year, which he is now overcoming by improving his understanding of the game.