12 Days Until Brazil: Tucker Kraft is Making Up for Lost Time

Maybe Tucker Kraft just likes to make up for missed time all at once.

As a rookie, Kraft struggled early in the season, even being demoted to the team's third preferred option at tight end behind undrafted rookie, Ben Sims.

Kraft was swimming upstream as a rookie in the early going. He struggled mightily.

He did not have the luxury of sitting and waiting while he learned how to make the jump from the FCS to the NFL.

Kraft was thrust into duty and essentially asked to sink or swim when Luke Musgrave left the Packers' 23-20 win over the Los Angeles Chargers with a nasty kidney injury that caused him to have blood in his urine.

Coincidentally, or not, that was Kraft's first real impact play that day against the Chargers.

Of his 31 catches, 28 came after that day. Both of his touchdowns were in the last stretch of the season as well.

There may not have been a player who grew more from the start of the 2023 regular season to the finish line than Tucker Kraft.

The biggest evidence of growth came in the team's final regular season game.

The Packers needed one first down to seal a spot in the playoffs when Jordan Love dropped back to convert a crucial 3rd and 8.

Love rolled to his right, and found Kraft, who released from the line of scrimmage after being asked to stay in to block on the play.

Love threw off platform, Kraft made the catch, and the Packers made the playoffs.

"That was a hell of a play," LaFleur said after the Packers' 17-9 win over the Chicago Bears.

He would praise the presence of mind of Jordan Love before moving over to Kraft and his growth throughout the year.

“He may not have always loved the role, especially early on,” LaFleur said. “I know he wanted to be out there more. But he’s earned it.”

Kraft would finish the season on a high note, catching a touchdown in the team's season-ending 24-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Kraft's emergence along with Luke Musgrave's potential has the Packers frothing at the mouth about their ability to play whatever formation they choose.

Those dreams would hit a setback this offseason.

Kraft missed most of camp with a torn pectoral muscle, and was pretty blunt about being out until the week of the Packers' final preseason game.

“I’ve known my return to play date from the moment I got hurt,” said Kraft at his locker to ESPN LaCrosse's Paul Bretl.

“We broke it down. The day after that I left and had surgery. Came back and it’s just been recovery ever since. We originally were gonna kind of just try to come back after the Browns game but I’m doing really good. Feeling really healthy. Ahead of the protocol. So, it feels good.”

Kraft would later clarify that he'd come back after the team's second preseason game, which was last week's 27-2 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Once he got back into team drills, he thrived.

Jordan Love noticed.

“Tucker looks great,” Love said after Thursday's joint practice.

“Since he’s been back out there, we’ve felt his presence, for sure. And I think he’s hit the ground running. I think he has some fresh legs right now after missing a little bit, but he looks great out there. It’s very apparent on the field and it’s great to have him back.”

Kraft was one of the dominant performers on the field in a situation that pitted two Super Bowl contenders against each other.

Kraft followed up his four-catch performance from Tuesday's practice with a big day against the Ravens.

That included a 20-yard reception down the field, and running through a Ravens linebacker at the goal line on a tight end screen.

Kraft's hardly practiced, but has been one of the standouts of training camp.

He's outperformed his running mate, Luke Musgrave to date as well.

It's probably not worth getting caught up in the semantics of who the team's primary tight end is, both will play a lot.

Kraft, however, has taken every opportunity and run with it.

“Well, I just, really I just took what opportunity I had and I ran with it,” said Kraft about his rookie season.

“There was a point in the season last year where I had to look myself in the mirror and say if I’m only going to get opportunities to run block and pass pro then I’m going to be the best on our team in run block and pass pro."

Kraft is going to get a lot more opportunities than just as a blocker. He might challenge for the team lead in touchdowns if this type of production continues.

Related: 14 Days Until Brazil: 14 Things the Packers Need to Win 14th Championship #7-1