The Green Bay Packers may finally get the chance to see a potentially explosive combination take the field together when both players are healthy. If the Packers activate tight end Luke Musgrave before the season is over, they will see Musgrave and Tucker Kraft on the field together at tight end. The Packers are waiting to see this combination to finally get on the field together when both are healthy and adjusted to playing in the NFL.
Packers Still Waiting for This Combination to Get on the Field Together: The Beginning
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst often selects two or even three players at a position he feels the team needs to improve. In 2023, Gutekunst doubled down at tight end on day two of the draft. In the second round, he selected Musgrave with the 42nd overall pick. The former Oregon State star provided the Packers with a potential downfield threat, something rare at the tight end position.
Then, in the third round, Gutekunst added Tucker Kraft with the 78th overall pick. The South Dakota State alum didn’t have as much speed as Musgrave but specialized in running with the ball after the catch.
The Packers needed contributions from both rookies as they parted ways with both starter Robert Tonyan and veteran blocking specialist Marcedes Lewis during the offseason. The two rookies were expected to contribute right away.
The First Season
Musgrave won the starting job out of training camp in 2023. He started the first nine games of the season and proved to be a productive player. He caught 33 passes in those nine games before suffering a lacerated kidney. That kept him out of the lineup until the season finale.
Kraft took longer to adjust to the NFL game. That should not be a surprise as he came from a smaller school. In the first nine games of the season, Kraft caught just three passes. He didn’t carve out a large role in the passing game.
But after Musgrave got hurt, Kraft stepped up and excelled. He became a reliable checkdown receiver for Jordan Love.
By the end of the season, Musgrave had 34 catches for 352 yards and a touchdown in nine starts. Kraft finished with 31 catches for 355 yards and two scores in eight starts.
Both players were active in the Packers two postseason games, but Musgrave was not 100 percent and saw limited action after missing so much time.
Packers Still Waiting for This Combination to Get on the Field Together: More Injury Issues
When the 2024 season started, Kraft emerged as the starting tight end while Musgrave found himself as the backup. He played just 39 percent of the offensive snaps in the first four games of the season and had just five catches for 22 yards. Then, Musgrave again suffered a long-term injury and was placed on the injured reserve but was designated to return.
Meanwhile, Kraft became one of Love’s preferred targets this season. Through 14 games, Kraft has made 41 catches for 555 yards and seven touchdowns. He is now one of Love’s favorite red zone targets. His ability to run after the catch makes him a reliable and dangerous weapon.
Potential Return
The Packers designated Musgrave to return from the IR and opened his three-week window to practice with the team last week.
Head coach Matt LaFleur likes what he’s seen from Musgrave, who has been a limited participant in practice for two weeks.
“He’s actually looked pretty good out there the past couple days, so we’ll see,” LaFleur told reporters after Friday’s practice. “Just watched him take a lot of the scout team reps. He’s running fast. We didn’t have pads on this week, but I do think that everything I’ve seen from him, he looks pretty good.”
With three games left, the Packers could have Musgrave return to the roster and give the team another offensive weapon. The team has an open roster spot since they traded Preston Smith to Pittsburgh.
While Musgrave wouldn’t be playing extensively right away, he can give opposing defenses something else to think about whenever he’s on the field.
“He’s got something that you can’t really coach, in terms of just the speed that he brings out on the field,” LaFleur said. “It’s not like we would go out there and play him 70 snaps, but if we can ease him back into it, I think it would be really good for him and for us.”
If Musgrave returns, the Packers could finally have both of their second-year tight ends on the field together. It opens up more options for the Packers offense and gives LaFleur a chance to do things opposing teams haven’t seen much on film. Even if Musgrave impacts just a few plays, that could make a difference in a close game.
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