The Tucker Kraft Update Every Packers Fan Has Been Waiting For

Every Green Bay Packers fan held their breath seven months ago when star tight end Tucker Kraft was carted off Lambeau Field with a torn ACL, putting an abrupt end to what was shaping up to be a career year.

Across just eight games, he led the Packers with 32 catches for 489 yards and six touchdowns, putting him on pace to finish with over 1,000 yards and more than a dozen touchdowns.

He was just the third tight end in NFL history to record at least 30 receptions, 450 receiving yards, and six touchdowns while averaging 15.5-plus yards per reception through the first seven games of a season, joining Jimmy Graham (2013) and Rob Gronkowski (2015).

Instead, his potentially historic season was gone, and the wait for 2026 had officially begun.

Fast forward to Wednesday’s OTAs at Green Bay, and Matt LaFleur dropped a quote that Packers fans needed to hear.

“Tuck looks great right now. You want him out there,” LaFleur said. “He looks so good, you’d want to put him out there, but certainly we’re still early in that process. Hopefully, he’ll be ready to go either by training camp or early in training camp.”

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Standard ACL surgery recovery in the NFL typically runs nine to ten months. Based on comparable timelines, Kraft should be game-ready by mid-August.

Training camp is slated to start in late July, giving Kraft several more weeks to continue building toward a full return.

Getting those training camp reps, even in a limited fashion, is massive for Kraft’s confidence heading into the season.

Romeo Doubs, the team’s leading pass catcher last season, is now in New England, and Dontayvion Wicks is in Philadelphia, leaving Kraft alongside Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden as Jordan Love’s top receivers in 2026.

Kraft is arguably the most irreplaceable piece in that group, and LaFleur has previously called him “a big focal point of our offense.”

If Kraft is ready to roll by Week 1, the Packers remain firmly in the contender conversation.

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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 10:11 PM.