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The Green Bay Packers lost one of their best players in Week 9. Tight end Tucker Kraft was in the midst of a career-best season, leading the team with six touchdown receptions.
Now, with Kraft out for the year with a knee injury, someone will have to step up. Even though the Packers didn’t bring in anyone to replace him before the NFL trade deadline, they might have a worthy replacement on the roster.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report predicted that a Packers tight end will break out in the second half of the season.
“Luke Musgrave had a solid 352 receiving yards as a rookie in 2023. However, he largely fell out of the Green Bay Packers passing plan after that, as Tucker Kraft became the go-to tight end. With Kraft out for the season — and receivers such as Matthew Golden and Romeo Doubs injured — expect Musgrave to remind fans of why he was a coveted draft prospect and a second-round pick,” Knox wrote.
Truth be told, that makes perfect sense. More than that, head coach Matt LaFleur needs to make sure that’s the case.
Quarterback Jordan Love had developed a strong rapport with Kraft, often looking for him in crucial third-down situations. He’s great at making intermediate throws and using the middle of the field, and getting Musgrave involved can unleash that layer of their offense again.
The Packers’ passing game didn’t have that in the second half against the Carolina Panthers or in Week 10 against the Philadelphia Eagles. While a lot of that was due to conservative play-calling, Kraft’s absence clearly took a big toll.
The Packers have struggled to run the ball all season. Love will be the key to getting back on track, and Musgrave will have to be much more involved in the passing game for that to happen.
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