The Green Bay Packers were dealt some crushing injury news on Monday.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, tight end Tucker Kraft suffered a torn ACL in Green Bay's defeat to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, meaning his season is over.
"Tests confirmed that Packers TE Tucker Kraft did in fact tear his ACL as feared, per source," Schefter reported on X.
Kraft left Green Bay's Week 9 contest with a knee injury, and after the game, head coach Matt LaFleur said the injury "does not look good."
With Kraft done for the year, the Packers have a glaring need at tight end. 2023 second-round pick Luke Musgrave is set to take over as the starter, but he has just nine catches on the year and won't come close to replacing Kraft, who tallied 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games this season.
Green Bay could hit the trade market for a tight end to aid quarterback Jordan Love, and the team has two potential options from struggling AFC teams.
According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo and Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku are expected to be available at the deadline. Both players would be realistic targets for the Packers.
Graziano says that Okonkwo can be had "for the right price," while Njoku could also be moved "for the right package."
Okonkwo and Njoku have both seen a ton of their snaps get cut due to rookies, as Gunnar Helm with the Titans and Harold Fannin Jr. With the Browns seem like long-term pieces for their franchises.
The Packers won't be able to find a player who can replace Kraft's production. However, Okonkwo or Njoku could provide solid play as complementary pieces in LaFleur's offense. It also shouldn't take much draft capital to acquire either in a trade.
Losing Kraft for the season is a major blow to Green Bay's offense, but adding Okonkwo or Njoku to the tight end room to combat some of the effect from the injury would be a savvy move from general manager Brian Gutekunst.
NFL trade buzz
- Steelers, Giants, Bills, Broncos get bad news from Adam Schefter's trade rumor
- Ian Rapoport's Raiders trade rumor gives Cowboys, Lions, 49ers low-profile edge rusher target
- Titans trade rumor from Ian Rapoport sets stage for potential deal with Steelers, Giants
- ESPN's Bears, Colts trade rumors could lead to Chicago vs. Indy deadline fight
- Trey Hendrickson trade rumor is huge news for Cowboys, Eagles, 49ers
- Trade rumor gives details of Eagles-Dolphins Jaelan Phillips talks
- Vikings trade rumor could lead to deal with Giants or Falcons
- Steelers trade rumor lists wide receiver targets for Pittsburgh
- Lions, Eagles trade rumors set up Philly vs. Detroit deadline fight
- Cowboys trade rumor could lead to deal with Chiefs or Bills