Are the Green Bay Packers in trouble after star tight end Tucker Kraft suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury in last Sunday’s 16-13 loss at home agianst the Carolina Panthers?
Kraft was a big part of Green Bay’s offense, as he still leads the team in receiving yards. With Kraft done for the rest of the 2025 NFL campaign, the Packers are going forward without a legitimate red zone weapon that can help the team complete scoring drives.
For Jon Gruden, who won a Super Bowl and was a former Green Bay coach, losing Kraft is a tough one for the Packers. And watching Green Bay struggle to put points on the board against Carolina added to his frustration with the team.
Gruden wary of Packers’ outlook after Kraft’s injury
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) is injured against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Carolina defeated Grewen Bay 16-13.
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“Well, I don’t know Dave. After losing Tucker Kraft, that is a big blow to the Packers,” Gruden said when asked by Barstool’s Dave Portnoy if he still regards Green Bay as a Super Bowl favorite after the Panther game.
Gruden then lamented the quality of Green Bay’s offense, which generated a total of 369 yards and went 7-for-13 on third downs, but often crumbled in the red zone, where the Packers went only 1-for-5.
“That was a disappointing outcome. They were 13 and a half point favorites. I can’t explain what is going on in the NFL…They just don’t look good in Green Bay yesterday at all, and I give Carolina credit. They came in with a ball control offense, and they just ran the clock and won the game of field positio,n and they got enough out of their field goal kicker, but Green Bay.
From Gruden’s perspective, Green Bay is in trouble finishing plays going forward.
“They ticked me off basically yesterday. I was shocked at their inability to get anything going on offense, and I’m telling you losing Kraft is big man because he bails them out in a lot of situations, and he’s a good blocker. Some of the things he does doesn’t even show up on the stat sheet, but that was a horrific loss.”
The Packers will look to recover right away and prove they can survive Kraft’s absence when they host the Philadelphia Eagles in a Monday Night Football clash in Week 10.
Kraft is carted off the field after suffering a knee injury against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Panthers won the game, 16-13, on a 49-yard field goal as time expired.
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