Matt LaFleur reveals key injury update on Tucker Kraft that could alter the Packers offense in 2026
Tight end is a key piece of the roster.
Everyone fairly talks about Micah Parsons’ recovery, but another Green Bay Packers star is fighting to return from an ACL injury in 2026. It’s tight end Tucker Kraft, who was on pace to having an All-Pro season until suffering his knee injury on Nov. 2 against the Carolina Panthers.
Speaking to NFL insider Mike Garafolo at the Annual League Meeting, in Phoenix, head coach Matt LaFleur shared a positive update, saying that Kraft is “right on schedule” in his recovery process.
Tucker Kraft is getting ready
Usually, ACL tearings tend to demand a 10-month recovery for NFL players — a timeframe that Parsons is trying to beat. Kraft, though, will have a bigger window because he got injured around six weeks earlier. If he needs 10 months, that would put him in line to get back for Week 1.
“It’ll be great to have Tucker Kraft coming off his ACL injury,” LaFleur said. “He’s been around quite a bit. Watching him train and rehab and go through that process, he’s gonna be a big focal point of our offense.”
LaFleur knows it’s hard to keep the offensive level after losing players in free agency, but Kraft is one of the building blocks to make it work.
“I think the familiarity with most of our guys, obviously we lost some people, losing a guy like Romeo Doubs is not the easiest to replace,” LaFleur added. “But it’s an opportunity for other guys to step up and get more opps. We lost Rasheed Walker, as well. But I’m excited about the group we’ve got coming back.”
Tucker Kraft was one of the most efficient tight ends in football last year, especially in generating yards after the catch. He ended up playing only eight games, with 30 catches for 469 yards and six touchdowns. If Kraft can be ready to start the regular season, the offense goes to another level — and it’s a season-altering update for Green Bay.
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