The Green Bay Packers made it official on Monday. Tight end Tucker Kraft suffered a torn ACL in the team’s 16-13 upset loss to the Carolina Panthers and will likely miss the rest of the 2025 season. Kraft played a major role in the Green Bay offense, and the team will have to try to thrive without him in the lineup. Here is how the injury to Tucker Kraft changes things for the Green Bay Packers this season.

How the Injury to Tucker Kraft Changes Things for the Packers, Number Five: The Packers Will Have to Sign a Tight End

The Packers released tight end Ben Sims when they activated Christian Watson off the PUP list before the Steelers game. The Vikings stepped in and quickly signed Sims to a contract. With Kraft heading on IR, the Packers will have only two healthy tight ends in Luke Musgrave and John FitzPatrick.

The team will look to add another tight end either from the practice squad, a player on another team’s practice squad or a free agent. They could also trade for a tight end, but that is less likely.

Veteran Josh Whyle is the only tight end currently on the Packers practice squad. The third-year University of Cincinnati product spent two seasons with the Tennessee Titans and has 37 career catches for 342 yards and two touchdowns.

Placing Kraft on IR will open up a roster spot for the new tight end. GM Brian Gutekunst may want to find a tight end who can block well.

Number Four: Run Blocking Will Have to Improve

Kraft was the best blocker of all the Packers tight ends. In fact, he was injured blocking on a running play against the Panthers.

Musgrave will now take over as the starting tight end for the Packers. Musgrave has many talents, but as a blocker he is willing but average at best. The drop in blocking may impact both the running game and the short passing game. Josh Jacobs may see fewer holes on runs to the tight end side. Kraft could also block on screens, jet sweeps and quick release passes. Musgrave may struggle a bit more when trying to block on these plays.

How the Injury to Tucker Kraft Changes Things for the Packers, Number Three: The Wide Receivers Need to Step Up

After eight games, Kraft stands second on the team with 32 catches and second among Packers with 44 targets. The only player with more catches (34) and more targets (52) is Romeo Doubs.

Doubs could see more targets since like Kraft, he specializes in short and intermediate pass patterns. Matthew Golden, Watson, Savion Williams, and Malik Heath may also see more targets. This is an opportunity for one of them to step up and get more snaps and more opportunities to catch the football.

Number Two: Jordan Love Has to Find a New Target

Jordan Love often looked at Kraft as a reliable, check down target. If nobody is open deep, Love would throw short to Kraft. If the pass rush came close, Kraft was his top option. Now, Love will need to try to find a new option on similar plays.

That could include Musgrave or FitzPatrick or one of the receivers or even a running back. Time will tell who will step up and who will have chemistry with Love.

How the Injury to Tucker Kraft Changes Things for the Packers, Number One: Luke Musgrave Has a Big Chance

Fans may have forgotten that Musgrave was selected a round earlier than Kraft in the 2023 NFL Draft. In their rookie season, Musgrave won the starting job out of training camp, while Kraft was relegated to backup duty. It was only when Musgrave suffered a lacerated kidney midway through the 2023 campaign that Kraft stepped in and claimed the starting job. He hasn’t relinquished it since.

Musgrave has more speed than Kraft and can be more effective catching deeper passes.

For his part, Love said he was ready for Musgrave to step up and get more playing time. “I’m very comfortable with Luke,” Love said after the game Sunday. “I think Luke’s had his fair share of opportunities, for sure. He’s played a lot of ball, and he made some big-time plays today, had a big-time catch…He’s just got to keep maximizing those opportunities.”

Musgrave had become an afterthought this season, catching only nine passes on 10 targets for 88 yards. This is a chance for him to resurrect his career and play a larger role in the offense. Whether he takes advantage of this opportunity will have a big impact on both Musgrave’s career and the Packers season.

 

 

 

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