The Green Bay Packers host the Philadelphia Eagles this Monday, Nov. 10; however, the Packers’ star tight end, Tucker Kraft, won’t be on the field to support his team. The Packers are expected to face a hard time replacing the rising star.
During Green Bay’s match against the Carolina Panthers on SNF, Nov. 3, Kraft suffered a serious knee injury while attempting a block during the third quarter. He was taken off the field, and eventually, his team suffered a 16-13 defeat. Later, fans were left heartbroken when an MRI confirmed a torn ACL that would force him out for the rest of the season.
Tucker Kraft Out for the Season Due to Injury
Losing Kraft was a massive shock for the Packers. He was doing great this season, ranking number 1 on PFSN’s Tight End Impact. The 25-year-old TE was the best receiver for his team this season. He had 32 catches, gained 489 yards, and scored six touchdowns in just eight games.
In his absence, all eyes will be on another rising TE, Luke Musgrave. Having suffered several injuries himself in the past, Musgrave could relate to the frustration of Kraft’s season-ending injury and appreciated his teammate:
“I’ve been through those two injuries in the NFL, luckily not as serious as Tucker’s, it just sucks. There’s really no way around it. It’s a bummer deal. He’s been playing great. Obviously he’s going to come back and be great again, but it’s tough to see him out because of the type of player and guy he is.”
Musgrave is a talented player, no doubt, but considering how well Kraft was playing, it will take effort from the entire team to replace him in the upcoming games.
Matt LaFleur Believes It Will Require a Collective Effort to Fill the Void Left by Kraft
The Packers’ offense has been doing great this season, ranking number 4 on PFSN’s Offense Impact, but it remains to be seen how much it will be affected in Kraft’s absence.
As the team prepares to host the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field, Packers coach Matt LaFleur believes everyone on the team has to play their part well.
“Everybody has to pull a little bit more and do a little bit more,” LaFleur said. “I would say it’s just not going to go on one position group. We need it from everybody, from the guys up front to our runners, receivers, and our quarterbacks. So it’ll have to be a collective effort.”
This Monday Night Football will be the Packers’ first game without Kraft, and it will be interesting to see how Musgrave and the team’s collective effort fills the void left by the season’s top tight end.