It has been a bit uncanny, the timing, or lack of it, between Green Bay Packer tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft.  They were both drafted highly in 2023, Musgrave in round two and Kraft in round three.  Loaded with potential, the duo both had their moments during their rookie seasons. 

But the one thing they haven’t been able to do very much is get on the field together.  In 2023 Musgrave was a starter from week one.  Kraft started out struggling to earn a spot on the field.  Through the first eight weeks of the season, Kraft had a grand total of two targets, both of which he caught, for a total of five receiving yards. 

Kraft finally announced his arrival by catching a touchdown pass on Thanksgiving Day against the Lions, and he was a key contributor to the offense in every game the remainder of the season.  But just as the former South Dakota State star was coming on, the injury bug struck Musgrave.  The week before Thanksgiving he suffered a lacerated kidney against the Chargers and would miss the next six games.  He returned for the regular season finale against the Bears, but played just nine snaps, getting just one target, which he caught for eleven yards. 

Year one behind them, the two looked forward to getting on the field together beginning in OTAs last spring.  But now it was Kraft who got injured, suffering a torn pectoral muscle during weight training.  The issue has forced Kraft to start training camp out on the PUP list.  He was activated this week but is still a few weeks from being a full go. 

Yet just the sight of Kraft and Musgrave on the practice field together this summer has Matt LaFleur excited.  He and the offensive coaches have long been scheming the possibilities with both talented young players lining up together.  “To have both of those guys at full strength I think can definitely change the complexion of our offense,” LaFleur said Wednesday. 

One can only imagine the challenge that might present to an opposing defense.  Can you find defensive backs big enough and strong enough to handle them in the secondary?  Can you find linebackers fast enough to cover them down the seam?  Can you stop the running game with both tight ends joining the O-line to block?  “It will be game-to-game in terms of how we deploy them,” the head coach explained.  “It’s a good problem to have.  It’s all about how you attack people on a week-to-week basis.  Sometimes twelve personnel groupings (one running back and two tight ends) will be a little more the plan.  Whereas some games maybe it’s eleven personnel (one running back, one tight end).” 

First, Kraft has to demonstrate he is ready to resume full contact workouts.  “As far as I’m concerned, the next two (preseason) games are not on the plate,” Kraft said in the locker room this week.  “We’re worried about Brazil”.  That would be the regular season opener against the Eagles down in South America.  Asked if he was confident he would be ready when the curtain goes up on game one, he replied without hesitation “Without a doubt.  I’m not supposed to talk about timelines and stuff like that.  But if you see me out there today, you’ll see me in Brazil.” 

Nobody is more pumped about that than LaFleur, who glows when somebody asks him about Kraft’s potential.  “I think he’s a complete tight end.  I think he’s only scratching the surface of what he’s capable of doing.  We’re excited to get him back in the fold, looking forward to when he can take more of those team reps.” 

Musgrave caught 34 passes in 2023, which tied the franchise record for receptions by a rookie tight end.  Kraft was not far behind with 31 grabs, which ranked third all time.  Despite Musgrave missing six games, together the two were the most productive pair of rookie tight ends since the New England Patriots put Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez on the same field. 

Add Musgrave and Kraft to the batch of promising young receivers, and the ability of running back Josh Jacobs to catch the ball out of the backfield, and good luck trying to stop this offense.