The Green Bay Packers have been walking a tightrope all season - battling injuries, shuffling depth charts, and somehow still managing to stay right in the thick of the NFC playoff picture. Now, with December football officially underway, the road to the postseason just got a little steeper.
Two key contributors - tight end Tucker Kraft and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt - are officially out for the rest of the year, and their absences are going to be felt on both sides of the ball. Kraft went down in Week 9 with a torn ACL during a tough home loss to the Panthers. Wyatt, meanwhile, fractured his ankle during the team’s Thanksgiving Day win in Detroit - a game that felt like a turning point for Green Bay, but came at a steep cost.
For Wyatt, the injury is especially tough. The young defensive tackle had been carving out a bigger role on a defense that’s quietly become one of the more disciplined units in the NFC.
His presence in the trenches - both as a run-stuffer and a pocket disruptor - gave the Packers a physical edge up front. Without him, Green Bay will have to lean harder on their depth and hope someone steps up to fill the void.
Offensively, Kraft’s loss is another blow to a Packers team that’s already had to get creative with its weapons. The second-year tight end was developing into a reliable target, especially in the red zone, and his chemistry with quarterback Jordan Love was starting to show. Losing him means more pressure on the rest of the receiving corps and a heavier reliance on the run game to keep defenses honest.
Despite the setbacks, the locker room vibe remains resilient. Wyatt recently took to Instagram to share his determination to return stronger after surgery and recovery. Kraft, sidelined himself, chimed in with a simple but heartfelt message: “Buddy!!” - a small but telling sign of the camaraderie that’s helped this team stay afloat through a turbulent season.
Now, the focus shifts to Week 14 - a pivotal matchup at Lambeau Field with major implications for the NFC North. With the division still up for grabs and the top seed in play, the Packers know what’s at stake.
They’ve weathered the storm so far. The question now is whether they can keep pushing forward without two of their rising stars.