Tucker Kraft appears ready to reclaim his spot as Jordan Love’s most dangerous weapon. The Packers tight end posted a video to social media on Easter Sunday showing him sprinting on a track, moving fluidly five months after tearing his ACL against the Carolina Panthers.
Before the injury ended his 2025 season in Week 9, Kraft led Green Bay in receiving yards (489) and receiving touchdowns (6), while ranking second in receptions (32). His absence exposed how much the offense relied on his ability to create after the catch. Now, with Romeo Doubs gone to New England, the Packers need Kraft healthy more than ever.
Tucker Kraft Returns to the Field After Injury
The video shows Kraft back in his element, training at what appears to be his hometown in South Dakota. His caption sent a clear message about his progress.
“Had a spectacular Easter weekend surrounded with my God fearing family,” Kraft wrote. “Thank you Jesus for the ultimate sacrifice you made for us on the cross. Back on my feet in the place it all started.”
The place mentioned is likely Timber Lake, South Dakota, a town of roughly 500 people where Kraft grew up on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation. The football field there bears his late father Doug’s name.
Seeing Kraft move fluidly on that track, five months removed from tearing his ACL against the Carolina Panthers, validates everything head coach Matt LaFleur said at the NFL Annual Meeting last week.
“He’s been around quite a bit,” LaFleur told reporters. “Watching him train and rehab and go through that process, he’s gonna be a big focal point of our offense.”
The timeline supports LaFleur’s optimism. Christian Watson returned to game action 294 days after tearing his own ACL in January 2025. Applying that same recovery window to Kraft’s Nov. 2 injury puts him on track to be game-ready by late August, comfortably before Week 1.
How Kraft’s Return Softens the Romeo Doubs Departure
Green Bay’s passing attack looks different heading into 2026. Romeo Doubs signed a four-year, $68 million contract with New England, leaving a void in the intermediate game where he caught 55 passes for 724 yards and 6 touchdowns last season.
LaFleur acknowledged the challenge at the league meetings. “Losing a guy like Romeo Doubs is not the easiest to replace,” he said. “But it’s an opportunity for other guys to step up and get more opportunities.”
Kraft’s healthy return provides the clearest path forward. According to PFSN’s TE Impact Metric, despite playing just 8 games last season, the Packers star finished the season as the highest-rate tight end in the league with an impact score of 90.9.
His 148.6 passer rating when targeted ranked among the best at the position. No other Green Bay pass catcher generated that kind of efficiency for Love.
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His 9.1 yards after catch per reception led all tight ends in 2024. Getting that element back changes how defenses have to account for Green Bay’s personnel groupings.
Watson, Jayden Reed, and second-year Matthew Golden give Love options outside. Kraft ties it together from the middle of the formation.
