Packers’ Tight End Tucker Kraft Returns to Full Practice Drills

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft is expected to be practicing fully today for the first time since tearing his ACL on Nov. 2, 2025.

Photo courtesy of Mike Clemens, Wisconsin Radio Network

The Green Bay Packers announce that tight end Tucker Kraft is set to resume full 11‑on‑11 drills in practice today.

“I anticipate a notable contribution from Kraft’s return today,” LaFleur remarked.

During the 2025 season, Kraft was performing at an All‑Pro level when he sustained a right ACL injury on November 2 against Carolina.

Initially, Kraft limited himself to individual drills during the first two and a half weeks of training camp; however, when questioned about any reservations about returning to full intensity, he answered unequivocally, “absolutely not.”

“Brian Gutekunst and I have discussed how he safeguards me from my own tendencies,” Kraft explained. “I lack brakes, so to speak, and our focus is on building consistency through a gradual progression.”

Kraft started all eight games of the 2025 season, recording 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns. He became the sole tight end league‑wide to achieve at least 30 receptions, 475 receiving yards, six touchdowns and an average of 15 yards per catch through Week 9, joining an elite group that includes Kellen Winslow (1980), Antonio Gates (2010), Jimmy Graham (2013) and Rob Gronkowski (2015).

When Kraft missed the remaining games, the offense saw a noticeable decline. The team averaged 27.6 points per game during the first seven contests in which he played, but that figure fell to 19.8 points over the final ten games after his injury.

A recent ESPN poll of NFL executives, coaches and scouts placed Kraft at No. 6 among tight ends, a ranking that many consider undervalued.

“His contribution to the team extends beyond production; his leadership is vital to our success,” Gutekunst affirmed.

Through Week 9 of the previous season, Kraft topped all tight ends in yards per reception, accumulated 344 yards after the catch, averaged 43.0 yards per game in that metric, posted a 10.8 average yards after the catch per reception, led the league with 12 explosive receptions and ranked second with a 37.5% explosive‑reception rate.

By Week 9, Kraft ranked third league‑wide in total receiving yards among tight ends and second in receiving yards per game (61.1). He was tied for second in receiving touchdowns and scored a touchdown in five games, matching the league lead for tight ends.

Kraft became only the second Green Bay tight end since the 1970 merger, after Paul Coffman in 1983, to record two games with over 120 receiving yards in a single season. Additionally, his passer rating of 148.6 on targets placed him second in the NFL at the time of his injury.

“He’s in a strong position,” Love noted. “He has dedicated the offseason to reaching this stage.”

He is now back to participating in 11‑on‑11 drills.

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