The Green Bay Packers have not had rookie tight end Luke Musgrave on the field over the last few weeks because of a lacerated kidney. Green Bay has opened the 21-day practice window for him to return to the football field, according to Tom Silverstein.
Musgrave will most likely not play this weekend against the Carolina Panthers (2-12), but it is quite possible that he will return against the Minnesota Vikings (7-7) on New Year’s Eve and take him off of injured reserve. Luke Musgrave was having a very good season before he got injured.
The second-round rookie from Oregon State was on track to go over 500 yards receiving as a rookie tight end before getting injured. He last played against the Los Angeles Chargers on 11/19. On the season, Luke Musgrave has caught 33 passes for 341 yards receiving and one touchdown. He has also been averaging 10.3 yards per reception this season. Musgrave has been targeted 45 times this season by quarterback Jordan Love.
Fellow Green Bay Packers Tight End Tucker Kraft Has Done a Very Good Job Of Replacing Luke Musgrave in the Time Being
Kraft is also a rookie tight end, who was drafted in the third round and came from FCS power South Dakota State. When Luke Musgrave got hurt, Tucker Kraft stepped up in a big way as the starting tight end. He has been a tremendous blocker in the running game and has an edge about him.
Kraft has also stepped up in the receiving game. He has also caught 18 passes for 216 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Tucker Kraft is averaging 12.0 yards per reception. He also had been targeted 25 times this year. Moving forward, head coach Matt LaFleur should find a way to have more two tight end sets with Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave.
They both will be valuable tight ends to the franchise for years to come. They also have other weapons at wide receiver. Musgrave returning before the end of the regular season will be a good thing for them. Green Bay is in the thick of the playoff race.
Hear me out…. pic.twitter.com/ffSJTRyo2P
— RELA 𝕏 (@itzzSKL) December 21, 2023
This could be a far stretch what the photo shows of Kraft being compared to George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers and Musgrave being Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, but the point he makes is that there should be two tight end sets more often at the end of the year and also in 2024. The offense could reach new heights with Musgrave on the verge of returning.