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When the Green Bay Packers get into their facilities at Lambeau Field this morning, they will have a new, unwelcome challenge facing them. The coaching staff, particularly on offense, will have to figure out how to assemble a productive offense without one of their most important players.
Tucker Kraft has become a do-it-all player for this team over the past season and a half, and in recent weeks he has been the Packers’ most dynamic receiving threat. Now, with what appears to be a torn right ACL likely sidelining Kraft for the 2025 season, Matt LaFleur must figure out how to replace his contributions in the aggregate.
It will surely take multiple players and a somewhat dramatic shift in scheme and playing time to do so, however, speaking to the versatility that Kraft displayed. He’s the true throwback tight end, equally adept blocking on the line as he is catching the football and picking up yards after the catch. None of the other tight ends on this roster — Luke Musgrave, John FitzPatrick, or the soon-to-be-called-up Josh Whyle — can come anywhere close to matching Kraft’s skill set.
And so, pressure now falls on the coaching staff to find a way to revive an offense that was all but entirely stalled out in the red zone in Sunday’s upset loss to the Panthers, even when Kraft was still on the field. Given the issues that the Carolina defense gave LaFleur and the offense, it’s probably a good thing that he has an extra day to prepare for Vic Fangio and a more dynamic Eagles defense this week.
Game notes: Tucker Kraft’s injury hits home for Packers’ locker room | Packers.com
The on-field aspects of Kraft’s absence will be bad enough, but he had quickly become a favorite of his teammates in the locker room as well.
Are the Packers doomed after TE Tucker Kraft’s injury? | ESPN
This is going to be a huge test for Matt LaFleur and the Packers’ offensive coaching staff. Whether they are ready to admit it publicly, Kraft was the most important player on offense besides Jordan Love.
Big opportunity opens for Luke Musgrave following Tucker Kraft’s knee injury | Packers Wire
Musgrave should be in line for a lot more chances to contribute now, though few of those chances will actually come with him lined up in line like Kraft was.
Matt LaFleur’s head-scratching decision costs Packers in upset loss to Panthers | The Athletic ($)
Going for it on the 4th-and-8 early in the fourth quarter reeks of pure stubbornness, and it’s becoming very clear that LaFleur doesn’t play the percentages — he’s making these calls based purely on his vibes.
NFC North Is Wide Open After Packers, Lions Show Key Weaknesses | SI.com
J.J. McCarthy looked better on Sunday than he did before his injury, making a few clutch plays. Meanwhile, Detroit’s running game was completely stalled out, as they only picked up 65 yards on the ground in the loss to...
