Green Bay Packers’ Tight End Tucker Kraft Returns to Full Team Drills after ACL Injury

Green Bay Packers’ standout tight end Tucker Kraft made a significant return on Sunday, participating in full 11-on-11 practices. This marks his first appearance in competitive team drills since suffering an ACL tear in Week 9 of the 2025 season. Kraft demonstrated his skill quickly by catching multiple passes from quarterback Jordan Love, including a touchdown pass.

Kraft’s performance remained intense during Tuesday’s practice. He engaged physically with Zaire Franklin, one of the Packers’ notable offseason acquisitions and a former All-Pro linebacker. On a specific flat-route play, Kraft and Franklin collided robustly in the open field. Later in the session, Franklin made a late shoulder hit just after Kraft completed a catch over the middle, causing him to fall. The two players share history from the previous summer when Franklin, then with the Colts, confronted Kraft during a joint practice between Indianapolis and Green Bay. However, the tension has eased, and Franklin, now a teammate, praised Kraft’s competitive spirit after Tuesday’s training.

“He’s a dog,” Franklin stated. “That’s how it’s supposed to be. I believe with Tuck on the field, I told him, ‘That’s what the team needs.’ He brings that energy, that competitiveness, that tough mentality which I bring to the defense. That’s what Tuck offers the offense. It was great having him there, great to compete.”

Tucker Kraft, drafted in the third round (78th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft from South Dakota State, has quickly established himself as one of the league’s top pass-catching tight ends. In 2024, he caught 50 passes on 70 targets for 707 yards and seven touchdowns over 17 games. In 2025, before his injury, he accumulated 32 catches on 44 targets, amassing 489 yards and six touchdowns in just eight games. His average of 15.3 yards per catch was the highest among tight ends, indicating a highly productive season before his setback. Extrapolated over a full 17-game season, his statistics projected over 1,000 yards, 12 touchdowns, and close to 70 receptions, which would have placed him in All-Pro talks.

Kraft has yet to participate in a preseason game, and with only two remaining, his appearance might remain absent. Nonetheless, all indications suggest he will be prepared for Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings.