Luke Musgrave #88 of the Green Bay Packers is tackled by Lathan Ransom #22 of the Carolina Panthers during the fourth quarter in the game at Lambeau Field on November 02, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Luke Musgrave #88 of the Green Bay Packers is tackled by Lathan Ransom #22 of the Carolina Panthers during the fourth quarter in the game at Lambeau Field on November 02, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
It had been nearly two years, going back to the Packers‘ Week 10 loss to Pittsburgh in 2023, that Luke Musgrave had run as far as he did on a field in an NFL football game as he did last Sunday against the Panthers. Musgrave, a highly touted second-round pick in that year’s draft, caught two balls for 64 yards that week against the Steelers, which had been and remains his career high.
Things went sideways for Musgrave, the 6-foot-6 Oregon State star, over the subsequent two years. Injuries were a culprit, as he suffered a lacerated kidney, and also hit the IR with an ankle injury. But the rise of versatile tight end Tucker Kraft, taken two rounds after Musgrave, was the main issue.
Kraft’s ascent into stardom firmed up Musgrave as a backup, and with the way Kraft had played in 2025, Musgrave also became an afterthought. That is, until Kraft ran awkwardly into offensive lineman Sean Rhyan and tore his ACL, putting him out for the year.
Luke Musgrave: 3 Catches, 34 Yards Replacing Tucker Kraft
In place of Kraft last week, Musgrave caught three passes for 34 yards, his best game since his career high. Now, the Packers will need much more of that going forward as they seek to replace Kraft’s production–he was leading the team with 489 yards and six touchdowns.
Musgrave was happy with the way he showed up in Week 9, and the three catches were good. But most of all, he was satisfied in doing his job–and he intends to keep doing it.
“I’m not super into the stat line,” Musgrave said. “I think if I were to catch those or not, I would’ve been happy with how I ran. I’m focused on how I show up on film, that I’m playing with good energy, good effort, and if I get those three receptions, it’s great. If not, and we still score … that’s what’s important.”
Packers’ Kraft Caught in ‘Bummer Deal’
Musgrave had the early portion of his career so clearly defined by injuries that he feels a certain kinship with Kraft and what he’s going through, he said.
“It’s s bummer deal,” he said. “It’s a crummy deal. So we feel for him. But I think preparation should stay the same. I always prepare like I am going to play, or play in the full capacity. So preparation is going to be the same.
“I’ve been through those two injuries in the NFL, luckily not as serious as Tucker’s, but it just sucks. There’s no way around it. It’s a bummer deal, he has been playing great. He is going to come back and play great again but it’s tough to see him out with the type of player and guy he is.”
Packers Have Faith in Luke Musgrave
The Packers have been careful not to overload expectations onto Musgrave, not to make him feel as though he is replacing Kraft singlehandedly. This is a team with talented weapons across the board, especially with Christian Watson having himself returned from an ACL tear.
Watson himself expressed confidence in Musgrave having the “spotlight” on him. But there will be other supporting actors.
“Whenever our number’s called, we’ve just got to do what we’re asked to do,” Watson said. “I don’t think anyone is or will have the mindset that they have to do too much. They just have to do what’s asked of them.”