The Green Bay Packers 2023 draft class made a large impact quickly in the 2023-24 season. From wide receiver Jayden Reed in the second round to corner Carrington Vallentine in the seventh, the Packers found playmakers all over the draft for their impressive first year under QB Jordan Love.
One of those high-impact rookies was a third-round tight end out of South Dakota State, Tucker Kraft. Kraft stepped into the TE1 role after partner tight end Luke Musgrave went out with a lacerated kidney mid-season, racking up 355 yards and two touchdowns in Musgrave’s absence. After a promising start to his career, Kraft’s offseason has reportedly been derailed after an unfortunate injury.
Green Bay Packers Tucker Kraft Tears Pectoral Muscle On Bench Press
Tucker Kraft is a 6’5 255 255-pound tight end in the National Football League who found solid success in his rookie season alongside another rookie tight end Luke Musgrave for the Green Bay Packers in 2023-24. As the Packers organization and fans looked forward to seeing these two young tight ends grow going into year two, unfortunately for one of them, the offseason will be a lot of recovering from injury.
“It sucks,” Kraft said with his left arm in a sling following Tuesday’s practice at Packers OTAs. “Just a regular lift,” Kraft said. “It was my last rep of the day on bench. Nothing crazy, not heavy weight. We were speed-benching and it just popped right off the bone.”
Kraft is not the only Packer to deal with this injury this offseason as the starting right tackle from 2023, Zach Tom, also tore his pec on a bench press before the NFL Draft. Both of these players are luckily on track to be back before the week 1 matchup in Brazil, it is unfortunate to see two young players who had such a strong ending to their previous season.
Head coach Matt Lafleur is also dealing with a torn pec via bench press, a unique problem to have for a head coach. But this experience helps him understand how it will affect his players going through the same thing. Lafleur said “There is no long-term concern” for anybody in the Packers locker room. When Tom was asked about Lafleur and Musgrave having the same injury he had this to say.
“He was calling me, texting me when he was about to get surgery, asking me how it was. We’re pretty much going through the same thing right now. I’m a little further along so I’m able to give him some pointers and tips. I’m just trying to get back as quick as possible.”
Tucker Kraft talked about his frustrations with his circumstances.
“I’m just ready to take off in this league and establish myself as a football player, really. That’s where my frustration lies,” Kraft said.
“I was really excited about this offseason – to have the whole offseason – to get running off the football again, get my second step down, my landmark. What I want to establish this year is I want to be the best Y in the outside zone – running the ball at the tight end. That’s my individual goal for the season. That just opens up so many avenues.”
While his offseason is not going to have the same schedule he thought it might have, Kraft is still primed to impress in his second year with another offseason of learning under his belt.
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