Tight end Luke Musgrave has been among the Green Bay Packers regulars sidelined with injury issues during OTAs and minicamp. So has Tucker Kraft, who is still progressing from ACL surgery. That has created more chances for backup Josh Whyle, who came off the practice squad after Kraft got hurt last season and held down the fort in the rotation.
Head coach Matt LaFleur has liked what he's seen. It's not as simple as a rotational player looking good in practice, though. Whyle is potentially competing to be Musgrave's replacement.
"He's shown a lot of good things," LaFleur said of Whyle. "I've always really liked Josh's versatility in terms of being a movable piece, but he's gotten some opportunities on things that maybe Luke would have done. Like yesterday, he caught a little post route over the middle and made a great play. The more reps he's getting, I think the better he's getting."
Musgrave has only one year left on his contract. In one stretch late last season, Whyle outsnapped him in three of four games, as well as in Week 17 against Baltimore. It's only OTAs, but, based on LaFleur's comments, it sounds like Whyle is making the most of his audition.
Josh Whyle makes sense as Packers' pivot from Luke Musgrave
The last part of LaFleur's answer is the most important. Reps are key. Whyle was only promoted from the practice squad last November after signing with the team late in the preseason. Despite his limited experience in the offense, he contributed meaningful snaps as a pass-catching target and on blocking assignments. As he gets more comfortable, he can position himself as a natural successor if the Packers move on from Musgrave after the season.
Hindered by injuries, the latter has never quite reached his ceiling since being drafted 42nd overall in 2023. Kraft, taken a round later the same year, quickly surpassed him as the No. 1 option on the depth chart.
The Packers would still love to have another receiving tight end in the mix, but Musgrave's injury history makes committing to a second contract rather risky. If they don't want to pay him a chunk of guaranteed money, another team that needs production out of the tight end room - and doesn't have Kraft to fall back on - probably will.
Of course, it's far too early to be getting ahead of things. If Musgrave is healthy to begin the year, he will remain next man up behind Kraft. It's not even training camp, and Musgrave hasn't even had a chance to touch the field yet, though that's part of the problem.
But it's only realistic to wonder whether the Packers will keep him around when they can slot in Whyle, a former fifth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans, at a much cheaper cost. Kraft still needs an extension. Jayden Reed got his. Christian Watson, too. There is only so much cap space to go around.
As long as Whyle maximizes his opportunities, don't be surprised if the transition gets under way as soon as sometime this season.
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