Tucker Kraft's 2025 season ended in the ugliest way possible: a torn ACL in his right knee on November 2 in a loss to the Panthers, right as he was breaking out as one of the best young tight ends in football. In just 8 games he'd racked up 489 yards and 6 touchdowns. Then it was gone, and everyone was left wondering how much of that guy would come back.
So this is the good news everyone's been waiting on. Per Andy Herman, Kraft is coming off the PUP list and practicing today, and that's a meaningfully faster timeline than a lot of ACL recoveries. Guys tear their ACL in November and you brace for a training camp that's all rehab reps and no live snaps. Kraft blowing through that timeline is exactly the kind of update that gets Packers Twitter buzzing.
A big step forward for Tucker Kraft. Love to see it.
Field Yates isn't exactly known for overreacting to camp news, so when he's calling this a big step forward, that's worth something. Kraft himself has said he doesn't want any snap limit for Week 1, and the Packers open the season September 13 against the Vikings. Being off PUP in late July puts him squarely on track for that, instead of easing in weeks into the season like a lot of ACL guys do.
There's also a business angle here that makes this news land even bigger. The Packers are reportedly trying to get Kraft locked up on a contract extension before Week 1, with GM Brian Gutekunst saying he wants a deal done before the regular season. The Athletic's Matt Schneidman has floated that Kraft could end up the highest-paid tight end in the league within weeks. A healthy Kraft practicing on time only strengthens his leverage there and makes the front office's urgency make a lot more sense.
None of this means Kraft is fully cleared for contact or a lock for every snap in September, but coming off PUP this early is the box everyone needed checked. If he's truly full-go for the opener, that's a top-12 fantasy tight end who was must-start every week he was healthy last year, back in the fold for a Packers offense that's going to need him.