Opportunity knocks for Luke Musgrave

It appears that Tucker Kraft’s knee is going to be fine. Even if Kraft’s rapidly rising star has to delay its ascension for a week, based on reporting from Adam Schefter and others, it looks like he’ll be back on the field sooner than later. It’s far more important for Kraft to be on the field in December, January, and (hopefully) February than it is for him to be part of what should be an obliteration of the Cleveland Browns.

But with Kraft on the mend (for the short term), a window of opportunity has opened for the “other” tight end in the Packers’ offense, Kraft’s 2023 draft class companion, Luke Musgrave.

Musgrave hasn’t really been a factor in the Packers’ offense since before he lacerated his kidney against the Chargers in Week 11 of the 2023 season. Since then, Musgrave has played just 10 regular season games (the same number he played prior to the injury) and has recorded more than one catch in just two of those games. Relative to Kraft, Musgrave’s production has been virtually nonexistent. Heck, relative to just about any scale, Musgrave’s production has been lacking. In his last 10 games, Musgrave has caught just 11 passes for 92 yards and hasn’t scored a touchdown.

But opportunity is knocking. With Kraft potentially sidelined, Musgrave may have a chance to take a leading role at tight end, if only for a week. He hasn’t been what you could call a featured participant in the Packers’ offense since his rookie year, but perhaps with more opportunities he can show a little bit more of what he can do.

And what he can do is run — if he can keep his feet. Musgrave’s speed has never been in doubt. At nearly 6-foot-6 and 257 pounds, Musgrave ran a blistering 4.61 40-yard dash prior to the 2023 NFL Draft, and he’s shown that those wheels still exist on deep routes throughout his NFL career, though completions have not followed. Still, it’s an intriguing skill set and he brings an interesting dimension to the Packers’ offense.

The Packers haven’t given Musgrave a particularly big role so far this year. Through two games, he’s played just 17 and 21 snaps, respectively. That’s just two more than fellow reserve tight end John FitzPatrick. Kraft has been a fixture on offense so far this season, playing more than 91% of the snaps in both games so far, but if he can’t go there will be plenty of snaps to go around between both Musgrave and FitzPatrick, and potentially fourth tight end Ben Sims, too.

Though his role has been small, it’s hard to imagine the Packers don’t still have high hopes for their former second round pick. That they snagged an elite tight end in the same class as Musgrave doesn’t mean he can’t still be a good player in his own right. But if he’s going to develop, or at the very least show some of the promise that led to the Packers taking him in the second round to begin with, it’s hard to imagine a better opportunity to do so than he seems likely to receive this weekend. I wouldn’t go so far to say it’s now or never, but now in his third season, the clock is ticking on Musgrave’s football future.

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