Tucker Kraft Aims for Week 1 Return Following ACL Injury

The Green Bay Packers faced significant setbacks last season, suffering two major ACL injuries that derailed their campaign. Tight end Tucker Kraft suffered a torn ACL during the Packers' narrow 16-13 defeat against the Carolina Panthers on November 2, 2025, while he was leading the team in receiving yards. His injury was a considerable blow to the squad, but hopes remained that they could adapt and remain competitive. However, the situation worsened when All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons also tore his ACL in a match against the Denver Broncos on December 14, leading to a disappointing end to their season with a loss to the Chicago Bears in the NFC Wild Card round.

In a recent update during Packers minicamp, Kraft offered encouraging news regarding his recovery. “Tucker Kraft just said he anticipates playing Week 1 without a pitch count,” reported Matt Schneidman from The Athletic. The Packers are set to kick off their 2026 season against Minnesota on September 13. Kraft expressed his optimism, stating, “I’m doing good. I’m doing better than expected. I really attribute it to the time and commitment that I put into my rehabilitation early on, the first three months. That really has catapulted me to where I am now. I feel great. My quad looks great. Swelling is minimal to none.”

Before his injury, Kraft had an impressive season, amassing 489 yards and six touchdowns on 32 receptions, averaging a career-best 15.3 yards per catch. He had become a key target for quarterback Jordan Love and was on track to surpass his previous personal records. Kraft was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft from South Dakota State, and with this being the final year of his rookie contract, he expressed his desire to remain with the team long-term. “I wanna play for this organization my entire career,” he stated. “I’m spoiled to have been drafted here, and this is all I know. Green and gold is all I know, so we’d like to keep it that way.”