GB Packers
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Tucker Kraft’s breakout season has come to a heartbreaking end.
On Monday afternoon, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed during a media briefing that his star tight end suffered a torn ACL. Kraft will miss the rest of this season and a portion of next season, as well.
The injury happened in the third quarter of the Packers’ loss against the Carolina Panthers Sunday — just one day before Kraft’s 25th birthday. He was blocking on a running play when Green Bay guard Sean Rhyan got cut blocked into Kraft, who was carted off the field.
“I got f***ing cut on my pull, so I don’t know what happened,” Rhyan said. “All I know is that motherf***er’s helmet was into my knees. He went low on me, so I had to try to avoid my knees getting clipped out, too. So it’s one of those things of terrible circumstances and s*** just didn’t come out right for us.”
LaFleur said the play was legal.
Racking up 489 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns this year, Kraft made a name for himself leaguewide as a big-play machine at tight end and a monster in yards after the catch. LaFleur said losing Kraft is devastating for the team, but the TE’s spirits remain high.
“He’s doing as good as you could ever be doing, considering the circumstances,” said LaFleur. “Tuck’s a guy that’s not gonna flinch. And that’s why we love him. He’s a hell of a player, a hell of a teammate, a hell of a guy.”
I’m bummed for him, I’m bummed for us. But it’s just part of it and it’s gotta be that next-man-up mentality. Unfortunate for him, but now other guys are going to get an opportunity.
After Kraft’s injury and the release of Ben Sims last week, there are only two healthy tight ends on the Packers’ active roster: Luke Musgrave and John FitzPatrick. Josh Whyle is on the practice squad.
Musgrave will now take over as the No. 1 TE
“Luke’s a guy that we got a ton of confidence in,” LaFleur said. “He definitely brings a vertical presence and we’re going to have to put him in situations where he can utilize his strengths.”
LaFleur did not rule out the possibility of signing a new tight end.
“Those are discussions that we’re having right now with [general manager Brian Gutekunst],” he said.
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