When fans look back on the aftermath of the Green Bay Packers‘ 2022 NFL season, many will recall that it was then that the team decided to move on from four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. This decision, of course, came after Rodgers’ worst regular season in years and with Jordan Love, a 2020 first-round pick, entering his fourth year in the league.
What is often overlooked, at least on the national level, was that it was also the time that Green Bay bid adieu to several popular veteran players and replaced them all with young rookies. This was true at various positions, but notably at tight end where the Packers allowed Marcedes Lewis and Robert Tonyan to walk in free agency and replaced them with Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft.
Both Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft Had Solid Rookie Seasons for the Green Bay Packers
The Packers selected Musgrave (second round) and Kraft (third round) with the expectation that both players were going to play big roles on the team. As the higher pick, Musgrave was expected to be a big part of the offense, especially given his prowess as a pass catcher.
As a rookie, Musgrave had 34 receptions for 354 yards and one touchdown. However, he was limited to just 11 games due to a lacerated kidney that he suffered against the Los Angeles Chargers. His 34 receptions, though, were a franchise record for a rookie tight end.
Kraft was nearly just as good (if not better), catching 31 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns. Most of his production came when Kraft went on injured reserve with his kidney injury, catching 26 passes for 312 yards and both of his touchdowns in the seven games that followed Musgrave’s injury.
Green Bay Packers Fans Are Excited for Tucker Kraft After Recent Luke Musgrave News
Through five games this season, Musgrave has just five receptions for 22 yards. Kraft, on the other hand, has 16 receptions for 218 yards and three touchdowns. It is also noteworthy that Musgrave has played just 39% of the Packers’ offensive snaps while Kraft has played 83%.
Earlier today, it was reported that Green Bay was putting Musgrave on injured reserve with an ankle injury that he has been dealing with for some time. Even though the second-year tight end was active on Sunday against the Rams, he did not play a single snap.
Packers fans all had a common thought when the news was first reported:
Tucker Kraft all systems go https://t.co/ONXuLJdqlx
— Sam Wagman (@swagman95) October 10, 2024
TUCKER KRAFT SZN 🚀 https://t.co/vRXYVOc4EC
— BaldBoysFF (@BaldBoysFF) October 10, 2024
It’s Tucker Kraft season. https://t.co/jGZI0jhSeK
— Drew Velez (@haaaaandrew) October 10, 2024
Tucker Kraft is about to be arrested for arson https://t.co/dsrTNPlF7W
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) October 10, 2024
This last post is a reference to a hilarious report on social media that stated that Kraft trash talks opponents by telling them that he will burn their childhood homes down.
Ironically, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic posted a video today of Kraft clarifying that he, of course would never do that… if children were inside, that is.
Tucker Kraft wants to clarify that he wouldn’t burn the childhood homes down with children in them pic.twitter.com/uULX0NC0NO
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 10, 2024
Musgrave will have to miss a minimum of four games while on injured reserve, and it sounds like he will be out longer. In the meantime, Packers fans will enjoy watching a new fan-favorite terrorize opposing defenses.
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