Rob Demovsky
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Tucker Kraft's breakout season with the Inexperienced Bay Packers is over.
Exams on Monday confirmed that the tight finish tore the ACL in his proper knee in Sunday's 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers, sources informed ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Adam Schefter. The Packers feared that may be the case and have been bracing to play the remainder of this season with out their main receiver.
Kraft was on tempo for greater than 70 catches and 1,100 yards, which might have been one of the best marks by a good finish in Packers historical past.
“It will be powerful, however you have to assault it head on,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur stated Sunday of the doable lack of Kraft. “We have got to do an awesome job of placing our guys in good positions to showcase what they'll do.”
Luke Musgrave, who was really picked one spherical sooner than Kraft within the 2023 draft, now takes over because the No. 1 tight finish. Musgrave was a second-round decide (No. 42 general), whereas Kraft was a 3rd rounder (No. 78 general).
“Yeah, completely, and he'll need to be,” LaFleur stated when requested if Musgrave is prepared for an even bigger function. “Each him and [John] Fitz[Patrick]. It is unlucky as a result of, greater than something, I understand how a lot Tuck places into this and he is a giant a part of our workforce, an awesome chief, and it is laborious to switch that. However that occurs with groups throughout the league.”
Kraft's harm occurred whereas blocking on a operating play, and it appeared Packers guard Sean Rhyan obtained reduce blocked into Kraft.
“I obtained f—— reduce on my pull, so I do not know what occurred,” Rhyan stated. “All I do know is that mom f——‘s helmet was into my knees. He went low on me, so I needed to attempt to keep away from my knees getting clipped out, too. So it is a kind of issues of horrible circumstances and s—, simply did not come out proper for us.”
The Packers (5-2-1) additionally completed Sunday's recreation with out receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder), left guard Aaron Banks (stinger) and defensive sort out Colby Picket (shoulder). They play the Philadelphia Eagles subsequent Monday evening.
