The Packers losing Tucker Kraft should have opened the door for Luke Musgrave to take on a much bigger role. For a couple of games it seemed like he might be trending in that direction. He saw a season-high 52 snaps against the Eagles in Week 10.
Since then, the former second-round pick has been leapfrogged by John FitzPatrick and even practice squad signee Josh Whyle. With the final year of Musgrave’s rookie contract looming next season, the writing is on the wall for his Packers future. Specifically, he probably doesn’t have one in Green Bay.
Musgrave’s Green Bay career crumbling to a close
What should have been a promising development has become a damning revelation of Musgrave’s status on the roster. That factor is health, which Musgrave has actually had this season, more than in either of his first two campaigns. Despite playing all 11 games, he has just 14 catches for 117 yards.
Dec 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave (88) runs after the catch against Minnesota Vikings in the first half at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
A lot of that, at least early in the schedule, had to do with Kraft’s emergence as a top three tight end in the league. Now Kraft is out for the season, but Musgrave hasn’t stepped up to fill his shoes – in any sense whatsoever.
Instead, FitzPatrick has taken over as TE1 during the past two weeks, leading the group with 75 snaps. Whyle has 52. Musgrave is down at 44. Other than versus Philadelphia and the Carolina game when Kraft got hurt, he has not reached 30 snaps this season. He’s being phased out in favor of former No. 213 and No. 147 draft picks (FitzPatrick and Whyle, respectively).
While in theory Musgrave should be a bigger threat in the passing game, he hasn’t really been one. Versus New York and Minnesota he had two catches for six yards. FitzPatrick had two for 16. Whyle had two for three yards. Each of the latter caught a touchdown pass. Musgrave is waiting on his first since the Division Round against the Cowboys in his rookie year.
Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave (88) scores a touchdown despite the efforts of Dallas Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse (1) during the third quarter of the wild card playoff game Sunday, January 14, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
With Kraft back in the fold in ’26, Musgrave will have even less of a role. Not only are the Packers unlikely to give him another contract, he could end up being traded before his deal expires. With Kraft healthy, Green Bay simply doesn’t need him. Worse, they don’t seem to need him much with Kraft injured, either.
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