Green Bay Packers wide receiver Bo Melton accomplished a lot in 2023. The former Rutgers star started the season on the Packers practice squad and finished it on the active roster. Not only did Melton play, but he made an impact when he did. This year, he continues to impress at OTAs and seeks to carve out a bigger role for himself in the Green Bay offense in 2024.

Melton was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He didn’t make the team but was stashed on the practice squad. The Packers added him to the active roster on December 27, 2022, although he did not play in a game that season.

Melton had many tools the Packers looked for in a receiver. He ran a 4.34-40 at the combine before the draft and was invited to the Senior Bowl.

The Packers welcomed Melton back to training camp in 2023 but let him go before the season. Again, he was stashed on the practice squad, but he was determined to prove he was capable of playing in the NFL.

Later in the season, Melton got his chance. He was activated for the Packers Thanksgiving Day win over the Lions and played two offensive snaps and six on special teams. Then, he was released again and re-signed to the practice squad.

But in the final four games of the regular season, when injuries struck the Packers receiving corps, Melton not only got a chance to play, but he proved he could be an effective receiver in the NFL.

In the Packers Week 17 win over the Vikings, he caught six passes for 105 yards and one touchdown. That made him the first player to gain 100 receiving yards for the 2023 Packers, a team that spread the ball around to a talented and young group of receivers.

He finished the season with 16 catches for 218 yards and one touchdown. He added a pair of catches for 26 yards in the team’s two playoff games and scored a touchdown against the 49ers in the Divisional Playoff round.

“It was a nice journey just to be from practice squad to playing, but my goal was never just to be a practice-squad player in general,” Melton said. “That’s never my mindset. I’m wanting to be a player in this league for a long time.”

Melton also discussed what helped inspire him while he was on the practice squad. “I’ve been around a lot of good players here that motivated me during the whole year when I wasn’t playing,” Melton explained. “When I started to play, it was nothing different. I know when you do good things, good is expected. At the end of the day, I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing. That’s been working since I was a kid.”

Melton made a strong impression on his teammates and the coaching staff in his limited action late last season. That has continued this year at OTAs.

“Bo is the same guy every day,” quarterback Jordan Love said when asked about Love. “You know what you’re going to get. Bo came in and he definitely wasn’t a starter last year, but he worked. Every day you’d see him on scout team making plays and getting a touchdown and celebrating, and he’s going to treat it like a game. That’s why it was no surprise when his number was called, he goes out there and makes plays.”

Head coach Matt LaFleur also continues to be impressed by Melton. “I think it’s a great story just being persistent and to continue to push forward even when maybe the stacks are kind of put up against you,” LaFleur said. “He’s done an outstanding job. He is so disciplined in his approach and how he is. He is so consistent on a daily basis, and he brings so much value. That’s what this league is all about. Some guys come in and make an immediate impact. Other guys have to continue to battle and show that resiliency that it takes and just continue to chop away. When given the opportunity, that’s when you like to see those guys go out there and perform, and he’s done that.”

One thing that Melton is looking forward to is facing his brother, Max, who was drafted in the second round this year by the Cardinals. They will face off in Week 6 when Arizona comes to Lambeau Field.

“When I saw Week 6, I’m like, alright, it’s going to be good,” Melton told reporters. “No more backyard anymore. Big stage. He’s going to be ready for it, and I’m definitely going to be ready for sure.”

Melton still has more to do to establish himself as a regular contributor in the Packers deep group of receivers. But don’t bet against him as he continues to work hard and keeps making plays.