Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft has been a breakout player for the team this year, but that season took a sour turn on Sunday.
Kraft had to leave Green Bay's loss against the Carolina Panthers early after he suffered a right knee injury. The third-year tight end entered the game with 469 receiving yards and six touchdowns this season, both of which led the team through eight weeks.
If Kraft is forced to miss significant time, it will be a major blow to the Packers' offense that relies on him so much. Here's a breakdown of how serious Kraft's injury may be.
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Tucker Kraft's status
Kraft suffered a knee injury when a Packers lineman was blocked into him on a play. The tight end immediately went down and grabbed his right leg before getting helped off the field by medical staff, which resulted in him getting carted off the field.
#Packers TE Tucker Kraft is injured. Able to get up and limp off with the help of trainers after this: pic.twitter.com/QqkdH6M67S
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) November 2, 2025
Tucker Kraft has been carted off the field.
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 2, 2025
📺:FOX pic.twitter.com/YnegO1QN7r
After the game, Packers head coach Matt Lafleur said Kraft's injury "does not look good" but the tight end will undergo further testing. On Monday, tests confirmed that Kraft tore his ACL on the play.
Tests confirmed that Packers TE Tucker Kraft did in fact tear his ACL as feared, per source. Pic.twitter.com/6lj5rScYg2
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 3, 2025
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Tucker Kraft's injury timeline
Ian Rapoport initially reported the Packers feared that tight end Tucker Kraft suffered a torn ACL vs. The Panthers, which would be a crushing blow to the offense. That turned out to be the case, so Kraft will miss the rest of the season as he rehabs from the injury.
The fear heading into the MRI is that Tucker Kraft tore his ACL, source said. Just brutal. Https://t.co/qJMW9WxvWH
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 2, 2025
Torn ACLs typically require surgery, which will lead to the bulk of Kraft's missed time. If he does need surgery on a torn ACL, the question becomes whether Kraft will be ready for training camp in 2026.
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Packers TE roster
| Rank | Player |
| 1. | Tucker Kraft |
| 2. | Luke Musgrave |
| 3. | John FitzPatrick |
With Kraft likely out for the year, Luke Musgrave will take over as the team's starting tight end. The third-year tight end entered Sunday with 451 receiving yards and just one touchdown.
FitzPatrick, meanwhile, is a depth option who's totaled just seven catches for 38 yards and a touchdown in his career.