Tucker

Kraft

Kraft is recovering from a season-ending ACL tear. He is on track to play in Week 1. Easing him into action before “sending [him] to the wolves” partway through the year, as Kraft says, makes sense. Kraft proved himself to be a top-tier real-life tight end and a locked-in TE1 in fantasy last year. He can still return TE1 numbers while playing on a snap count, likely receiving a few first-read passes that are designed with his post-catch skill set in mind. These comments should not impact his ADP negatively. For what it’s worth, Kraft also said that he is hoping to play his normal allotment of snaps in Week 1. The team may simply choose to take a conservative approach. Kraft notably resumed participating in 11-on-11 drills today.

According to Rapoport, the “biggest question” Kraft faces is whether he will get a contract extension that makes him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL before the season kicks off. Kraft led the team in receptions (16) and receiving yards (225) when he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 9 last year. At 25 years old, he is early in his prime.

ESPN’s Rob Demovsky notes this is Kraft’s first absence since he returned from the physically unable to perform list. The Packers are having their annual Family Night this evening, and Demovsky believes the team is simply giving Kraft the night off. There is no cause for concern at this time.

LaFleur elaborated that Kraft will have to hit all his benchmarks to get there, but that it’s squarely in play is great news for Kraft’s chances of being available for Week 1. We’d still expect him to be eased into camp practices, but this is trending in the right direction.

This is tremendous news for Kraft, who said earlier in the week that he expected to be activated “very soon.” Head coach Matt LaFleur said Kraft will practice on Friday but also added that he will not participate in 11-on-11s for the time being. Regardless of his participation, Kraft being back in any capacity is a great sign for his availability entering the season, and we would expect him to be a full participant in practice sooner rather than later. The fourth-year tight end caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns over eight games last season before a torn ACL ended his breakout campaign, but he should be in line for a big 2026 if he can return to the player we saw before his injury.

Kraft said all the way back in June that he would likely begin training camp on the PUP list. He added that he may simply need some time to get his conditioning right before taking the field, and his comments from today seem to confirm that. He was on pace to finish as the TE4 before suffering a torn ACL last year. Even if he starts slow in 2026, Kraft appears to be a safe bet for high-end fantasy production this year.

Kraft had left open the possibility he would be full-go for the beginning of camp, but this was always a more likely outcome. Kraft can be activated at any time, but the conservative Packers will undoubtedly take their time. Once you are off the active/PUP list, you cannot return and are no longer a candidate for reserve/PUP. In other words, the Pack will want to be sure Kraft is healthy. The ascending fourth-year pro has a strong chance at being ready for Week 1, but it is not a forgone conclusion. We will keep you updated.

This news comes shortly after the Packers signed Devonte Wyatt to a three-year, $57 million extension. Kraft, who, like Wyatt, is also in the final year of his rookie deal, is recovering from a torn ACL that ended his 2025 season but is trending toward being ready for Week 1 based on recent reports and has been among the most efficient tight ends in the league. Since earning a full-time role in 2024, Kraft has totaled 82 receptions for 1,196 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging an impressive 14.6 YPR. With training camp drawing near, it wouldn’t be surprising to see this deal get done in the very near future.

Kraft has said earlier this offseason that he plays to play in Week 1 with “no pitch count,” and Schneidman himself said late last month that the tight end “should be full go” by then. That said, whether or not Kraft is playing in full by the start of training camp is to be determined. Kraft suffered a torn ACL in Week 9 of last season and could be a candidate for the PUP list to open camp when the Packers take the field for their first practice in 10 days. His status will be one to monitor, but Kraft taking the field in any capacity to start camp would be a good sign.

Kraft has said that he plans to play in Week 1 with no pitch count after a torn ACL he suffered in Week 9 of last season. Going on the PUP list at the start of camp would not be abnormal or cause for concern, the question would simply be how long he stays on it. Kraft is going to be one of the most fantasy-interesting injuries to track over the course of training camp. Stay tuned.