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Tag: Tucker Kraft

  • Packers’ Matt LaFleur opens up on Tucker Kraft replacement

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    The Green Bay Packers have lost tight end Tucker Kraft for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL, the latest blow in what has been a rather strange season for the Packers.

    So, what will Green Bay do now that Kraft is gone for the year? Will it scour the trade market to find a replacement? Or will it stay the course with what it currently has?

    Read more: Chiefs’ Trade Proposal Ships Out Explosive WR to Bolster Defense

    Packers head coach Matt LaFleur opened up on the situation Monday, revealing that Luke Musgrave seems more than prepared to step into the starting role.

    “Luke’s a guy that we’ve got a ton of confidence in,” LaFleur told reporters. “I think his career got started off facing a little adversity, being in and out of the lineup with some injuries, but what he does bring is he definitely brings a vertical presence, and we’re gonna have to put him in situations where he can utilize his strengths.”

    Remember: Green Bay actually selected Musgrave before Kraft in the 2023 NFL Draft, picking Musgrave in the second round then circling back around to nab Kraft in Round 3.

    Early on, it appeared that Musgrave was being prioritized, as he caught 34 passes for 352 yards and a touchdown in just 11 games during his rookie campaign. But injuries derailed the Oregon State product over his first couple of seasons, allowing Kraft to take center stage.

    Kraft broke out by hauling in 50 receptions for 707 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024, averaging a hefty 14.1 yards per catch, a truly incredible mark for a tight end.

    Through eight games this season, Kraft had logged 32 catches for 489 yards and six scores, establishing himself as Jordan Love’s go-to guy in the aerial attack.

    Read more: Browns Player Gives Up Money Just to Leave Cleveland

    What’s more, the 25-year-old had never missed a game up until now.

    The Packers could potentially try to swing a trade for someone like David Njoku from Cleveland or Michael Mayer from Las Vegas, but it appears that they feel alright with Musgrave as their top tight end moving forward.

    For more on the Green Bay Packers and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.

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  • Brian Branch Opens Up on Helmet Toss vs Packers

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    Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch knows he can’t afford to lose his cool, not again. After drawing a costly 15-yard penalty in Sunday’s 27-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Branch admitted Wednesday that his helmet toss wasn’t his proudest moment.

    The Incident at Lambeau

    It all happened on Green Bay’s opening drive. Branch got tangled up with tight end Tucker Kraft, who continued blocking him after the whistle. Frustrated, Branch yanked off Kraft’s helmet and chucked it toward the Lions’ sideline.

    The result? A flag, an early momentum swing for Green Bay, and another blemish on Branch’s record.

    “Hopefully I didn’t, but I probably did,” Branch said as quoted by the Detroit Free Press.

    A Pattern Branch Has to Break

    Last season, Branch was fined seven times for various illegal hits and on-field incidents. That included one infamous moment in Green Bay when he was ejected and flipped the Lambeau crowd double middle fingers on his way out.

    So yeah, Branch knows he has a target on his back when it comes to discipline. And so does his head coach.

    “He knows better,” Dan Campbell said after the game. “That was the message. … It was one of the things we talked about, man, keeping your head. So he knows better.”

    Brian Branch’s Take

    To his credit, Branch isn’t running from the mistake.

    “Just got to be the bigger person next time,” he said.

    It’s not just about avoiding penalties, it’s about being available and dependable for a defense that can’t afford mental lapses. Branch is one of Detroit’s most versatile playmakers, and the Lions need his energy focused on shutting down opponents, not sparring with them after the whistle.

    Bottom Line

    The Lions get a chance to reset this Sunday in their home opener against the Chicago Bears. For Branch, that means proving he can channel his intensity the right way, as the guy making game-changing plays, not drawing game-changing penalties.

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    Don Drysdale

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