The Green Bay Packers have lost tight end Tucker Kraft for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL, the latest blow in what has been a rather strange season for the Packers.
So, what will Green Bay do now that Kraft is gone for the year? Will it scour the trade market to find a replacement? Or will it stay the course with what it currently has?
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Packers head coach Matt LaFleur opened up on the situation Monday, revealing that Luke Musgrave seems more than prepared to step into the starting role.
“Luke’s a guy that we’ve got a ton of confidence in,” LaFleur told reporters. “I think his career got started off facing a little adversity, being in and out of the lineup with some injuries, but what he does bring is he definitely brings a vertical presence, and we’re gonna have to put him in situations where he can utilize his strengths.”
Remember: Green Bay actually selected Musgrave before Kraft in the 2023 NFL Draft, picking Musgrave in the second round then circling back around to nab Kraft in Round 3.
Early on, it appeared that Musgrave was being prioritized, as he caught 34 passes for 352 yards and a touchdown in just 11 games during his rookie campaign. But injuries derailed the Oregon State product over his first couple of seasons, allowing Kraft to take center stage.
Kraft broke out by hauling in 50 receptions for 707 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024, averaging a hefty 14.1 yards per catch, a truly incredible mark for a tight end.
Through eight games this season, Kraft had logged 32 catches for 489 yards and six scores, establishing himself as Jordan Love’s go-to guy in the aerial attack.
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What’s more, the 25-year-old had never missed a game up until now.
The Packers could potentially try to swing a trade for someone like David Njoku from Cleveland or Michael Mayer from Las Vegas, but it appears that they feel alright with Musgrave as their top tight end moving forward.
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