The Green Bay Packers have suffered unfortunate setbacks on both sides of the ball this season, most notably involving cornerstone linebacker Micah Parsons and breakout tight end Tucker Kraft. Both players sustained season-ending knee injuries during the 2025 campaign, setting the stage for lengthy recoveries as they work toward being ready for the 2026 kickoff.
Green Bay Packers Braces as Micah Parsons, Tucker Kraft Face Long Recoveries
Kraft tore his ACL in a Week 9 loss to the Carolina Panthers, while Parsons suffered the same fate in Week 15 during a defeat to the Denver Broncos. The typical recovery timeline for a torn ACL is roughly nine months or longer, making a return by Week 1 of the 2026 season possible for both, yet far from certain.
Even so, Green Bay pressed forward without two of its most impactful stars and still secured a postseason berth, clinching its spot following the Detroit Lions’ Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Parsons, who arrived in Green Bay this August following the franchise’s blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys, was nonetheless named to the 2026 Pro Bowl roster, the league announced on Dec. 23. This honor marks his fifth Pro Bowl selection, making him the first defensive player since former Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald to earn a Pro Bowl nod in each of his first five seasons.
Despite his 2025 run being cut short, Parsons recorded 12.5 sacks through 13 starts, also becoming the only NFL player since 1982 to log 12 or more sacks in each of his first five seasons.
“Two weeks in, I’ve accepted the pain and the reality of this journey,” Parsons shared on Christmas Day via X. “Some days are heavy, some days aren’t but every day brings its own fight. My courage, my strength, and my mind have all been tested. Still, I won’t stop. I won’t quit until I’m back. I’m grateful God chose me.”
Meanwhile, Kraft’s absence has not gone unnoticed either. In a true testament to his impact, the third-year standout still ranks No. 1 on PFSN’s TE impact board with a 90.4 score, sitting ahead of George Kittle, Sam LaPorta, Trey McBride, and Dalton Kincaid. Kraft totaled 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns across just eight starts, averaging 15.3 yards per reception. Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur noted that Kraft handled the immediate aftermath of his injury as well as could be expected.
“He’s doing as good as you could ever be doing, considering the circumstances,” LaFleur said of Tucker, following his medical evaluations on Nov. 3. “Tuck’s a guy that, he’s not going to flinch. That’s why we love him. He’s a hell of a player, hell of a teammate, hell of a guy. I’m bummed for him. I’m bummed for us. It’s part of it.”
Green Bay will close its regular season against the division rival Vikings on Jan. 4 (3 p.m. ET) before shifting focus, without Parsons and Kraft, to a deep NFC playoff bracket.
