Packers tight end Tucker Kraft is already back on the practice field in a limited way, and Matt LaFleur says the next checkpoint could come later this month.
Kraft, who tore his ACL on November 2, was able to ride a bike to the field and even practice on it Friday, his first work since the injury. The Packers are focused on having him ready for Week 1, but LaFleur said there’s a chance Kraft could be part of the action when Green Bay holds a joint practice with the Cardinals on August 26.
“That’s a realistic target,” LaFleur said Sunday. “I mean, he’s got to hit all the benchmarks along the way, and if that’s the case, then absolutely,” LaFleur told reporters on Sunday.
The coach said the Packers are being careful with the third-round pick from the 2023 draft, and that the early signs have been encouraging.
“I think we’re obviously taking it slow with him because he’s such an important player to us,” LaFleur said. “But, yeah, I think he handled everything great.”
Kraft is entering the final year of the rookie contract that pays him $3.6 million in 2026. He has said he’s comfortable practicing without the long-term security he has already earned.
LaFleur’s praise fits the moment, but the reality around Kraft’s future is just as clear: another injury would change the conversation fast. If that happens, the Packers likely would pull back, and a multi-year deal would be off the table for now. A one-year arrangement for 2027 could become the more likely path until Kraft proves he’s all the way back.
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