Packers Rookie TE Returns to Practice; Matt LaFleur ‘Cautiously Optimistic’

The Green Bay Packers have opened the window for Luke Musgrave to be activated off injured reserve, as the rookie tight end returned to practice on December 21 for the first time since suffering a lacerated kidney against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11.

Even though Musgrave did not go through team drills, just getting back out there was a step toward returning to action. The Packers now have a 21-day window to decide whether Musgrave is healthy enough to activate off injured reserve to play or to revert to season-ending injured reserve.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is encouraged that Musgrave was even able to take this step.

“It was great,” LaFleur told reporters. “He was running and catching some balls with the trainers. He’s making progress.”

LaFleur added that he was “cautiously optimistic” that Musgrave would be back on the field at some point this season.

Before suffering the injury, which landed Musgrave in the hospital, the Packers’ second-round pick in the 2023 draft caught 33 passes for 341 yards with 1 touchdown in 10 games.

It would seem that the earliest Musgrave would able to be activated from the 53-man roster, and play, would be Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings.

Packers TE Coach Praises Luke Musgrave’s Work Ethic

Just because Musgrave was unable to practice, that doesn’t mean the rookie tight end wasn’t engaged during his time on injured reserve.

According to Musgrave’s position coach, John Dunn, he was an active participant during team meetings and film study over the course of his four-week absence.

“Luke, and like all these guys, our personnel guys did a great job, they love football,” Dunn told reporters on December 20. “I mean love football. For him, not to speak for him, you wouldn’t have it this way, but you do get to step back and maybe look at the game a little differently since you’re not playing. I do think for him, behind able to see it, watch it, study, seeing it through a different lens, but just talking to him. He’s a great kid.”

The Packers (6-8) enter Week 16 on the outside looking in at the NFC playoffs, one game behind the Vikings (7-7) in the wild card race with three games remaining.

Getting Musgrave back onto the field, and into rising quarterback Jordan Love‘s supporting cast would give Green Bay’s playoff chances a boost.

Tucker Kraft Emerges in Luke Musgrave’s Absence

Since Musgrave’s injury, fellow rookie tight end Tucker Kraft has made the most of an expanded role in the Packers’ passing game.

Through the first 14 games of the 2023 campaign, Kraft has pulled down 18 receptions for 216 yards with a pair of touchdowns. However, it has been since Musgrave’s injury that Kraft has really emerged.

Over the past five weeks, Kraft has caught 15 passes for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns. Meanwhile, as Pro Football Focus points out Love has a whopping 134.8 passer rating when targeting the third-round rookie.

If Musgrave is able to return this season, Love and the Packers’ offense will have a dynamic and potent tight end duo down the stretch.