The Green Bay Packers are 7-8 and have a real chance to make the NFL Playoffs. In a season where many national media members, and even some fans, believed they would finish well below .500, the Packers have put themselves in a position to have a 95% chance to make the postseason if they win their final two games.
Prior to the start of the season, very few believed that the Packers would, or even could, be in this position. As the season has gone on, there have been high points and low points; but there has been dramatic improvement and development on the parts of Jordan Love and his young pass catchers.
One of the most important contributing factors to the Packers’ success on offense this season has been their ability to overcome a plethora of injuries to key players. While these injuries may have played a factor in the outcome of games early in the season, the most recent games have seen young skill players step up when their number was called.
One of the most important of these players has been Tucker Kraft, whom the Packers drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. With fellow rookie tight end Luke Musgrave on injured reserve, Kraft has ensured that the passing game is not lacking a dynamic pass-catching tight end. As the weeks have progressed, he has made strides in his receiving abilities, but has had to learn one lesson the hard way.
Green Bay Packers Tight End Tucker Kraft and Offensive Coordinator Adam Stenavich Talk About Jumping Over Defenders
In the five games that Kraft has played in since Musgrave got hurt, he has recorded 17 receptions for 233 yards and two touchdowns. He has improved in his blocking and route running, and has earned admiration from fans for his tendency to attempt jumping over opposing defenders.
The problem, though, is that Kraft’s leaps over defenders has resulted in him sustaining some minor injuries. Most notably, he had to take a few plays off during the Packers’ loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because he caught a helmet to the groin area as he attempted to leap over a defender. An attempted jump in the Packers’ win over the Carolina Panthers resulted in a hard fall.
As fun as it is to see a player as big as Kraft jump over defenders, the fact of the matter is that it may not be worth the risk of injury. This was something that both Kraft and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich talked with reporters about this week.
According to Ryan Wood:
After hurdling twice past 2 weeks, I asked Tucker Kraft, in nicest way, if he’s crazy.
“I might have a couple screws loose,” he said.
Didn’t get hit in the bad spot this week, but landing from 6 feet in air wasn’t great.
Kraft: “I’m gonna have to start putting my head down.”
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) December 28, 2023
Stenavich added:
#Packers OC Adam Stenavich says Tucker Kraft has been pulled aside and told, being a tight end, to try running a tackler over instead of hurdling: “I think sometimes lessons are learned best the hard way, and he definitely learned the hard way.”
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) December 28, 2023
From the sound of it, the days of Kraft leaping over defenders may be over. He is certainly big enough to run over defenders and does not need the flair that comes with the hurdles.
Still, there is no denying the impact that Kraft has had on the offense over the past five weeks. Regardless of the outcome of the next two games, the Packers’ future at the tight end position is certainly bright.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!