The Green Bay Packers have taken a sum-of-its-parts approach to the wide receiver position in recent years — perhaps to a fault. They've finally consolidated the group, but the timing is far from ideal, considering star tight end Tucker Kraft is recovering from a torn ACL.
Green Bay lost Romeo Doubs to the New England Patriots in free agency and traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. They haven't brought in any meaningful reinforcements either. That puts a significant onus on Kraft to immediately reestablish himself as the focal point of their passing attack, as Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame highlighted.
"Going into this season, Kraft needs to be back for coach Matt LaFleur, who is losing Doubs’ team-high targets (85) and [receiving] yards (724)," Verderame wrote. "Without the ability to throw four or five starting-caliber receivers on the field, missing a true gamebreaker could be a glaring problem."
NFL writer puts massive pressure on Tucker Kraft to fill Romeo Doubs' shoes
Kraft's importance to the Packers cannot be overstated. However, he remains without a definitive return timeline, raising a valid question: who will step up if his absence spills into 2026?
Doubs, Green Bay's leading receiver this past campaign, was a key component of the club's offense; he was one of the more reliable options, too. The same can be said for Wicks, who produced when given the chance. While veterans Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, plus 2025 first-round pick Matthew Golden, are incredibly talented, they each come with their fair share of concerns.
Watson and Reed have durability issues, especially the former, and the latter is mostly limited to slot work. Meanwhile, Golden has fans within the Packers' organization, and understandably so, though he's yet to prove himself as a primary playmaker. Can franchise quarterback Jordan Love and a squad with playoff expectations trust any of them as much as Kraft?
Relying too heavily on the trio of Watson, Reed and Golden may prove to be a dangerous game for the Packers. Frankly, they aren't capable of turning a short catch into a long gain or being the reliable red-zone threat Kraft is, which the numbers support.
54 tight ends recorded at least 25 targets in 2025, including the playoffs, and Kraft was one of them despite only appearing in eight contests. Here's where he ranked among the bunch in the following metrics, per Pro Football Focus ($):
- Second in yards per reception (15.3)
- First in yards after catch per reception (10.8)
- Second in yards per route run (2.33)
- First in passer rating when targeted (157.2)
For what it's worth, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has stated that he anticipates Kraft to be back "early in the season."
Add us as a preferred source on Google