The Green Bay Packers have designated rookie tight end Luke Musgrave for return from injured reserve. Musgrave has a 21-day window to practice before Green Bay can elevate him to the active roster. He will miss the remainder of the 2023 season if they decide not to activate him in that time frame.
The Green Bay Packers rookie suffered a kidney injury in Week 11.
Luke Musgrave suffered a lacerated kidney in Week 11 but managed to play through the injury. He was sent to a local hospital after the game and stayed there until he was released on Tuesday and was placed on injured reserve the next day.
Matt LaFleur explained how he found out about Musgrave’s injury:
“He didn’t say anything all game but then something came up and he called Flea (head athletic trainer Bryan Engel). He’s been in the hospital. It’s been pretty significant. This kid is as tough as they come.”
The rookie tight end was having a productive rookie season.
Musgrave took over as the starter at the beginning of the season and has done a good job. He has 33 receptions on 45 targets for 341 yards and one receiving touchdown. He has the fifth-most targets, the third-most receptions, and the fifth-most receiving yards.
Who filled in for Musgrave?
Tucker Kraft has taken over as the starting tight end in the absence of Musgrave. Kraft has done a solid job down the stretch. He had 13 receptions on 18 targets for 173 yards and two receiving touchdowns in the last four games and has 18 receptions on 25 targets for 216 yards and two receiving touchdowns this season.
Musgrave’s injury status for Week 16.
Since Musgrave was designated for return during the week, he will be inactive in their Week 16 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. LaFleur was cautiously optimistic about him playing this season:
“Obviously, I’d love to see him out there [in a game] and cautiously optimistic at some point. I just don’t know when that point will be.”
Musgrave did not partake in tight end drills but was running and catching passes off to the side on Thursday.
Green Bay is fighting for a playoff spot.
The Green Bay Packers are 3rd in the NFC North with a 6-8 record and are 11th in the NFC Playoff Picture. Here’s how they can make the playoffs.
They play on the road against the Carolina Panthers in Week 16, on the road against Minnesota in Week 17, and at home against the Chicago Bears in their season finale.
Will Green Bay win the rest of their games, and will the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and Minnesota Vikings lose one or more games?
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