Is a Luke Musgrave Breakout Coming?
Packers tight end has an opportunity to step up.
By Kevin Gibson
Tucker Kraft is lost for the 2025 season, and Green Bay Packers fans are still in mourning. But in the aftermath, will we finally see a Luke Musgrave emergence? It’s an intriguing question, and it’s going to be fun to find out the answer over the back half of the schedule.
Following Kraft’s freak knee injury Sunday in the team’s ugly 16-13 home loss to the Carolina Panthers, Musgrave caught three Jordan Love passes for 34 yards, including one catch and run that helped set up the Packers’ lone touchdown drive.
That said, the oft-injured Musgrave has just a 9-88-0 line on 10 targets through the team’s first eight games of the 2025 season. Musgrave sightings have been rare in the shadow of Kraft, who emerged as one of the best tight ends in the league heading into week 9.
For the season, the 2023 third-round draft pick Kraft had looked nearly unstoppable in amassing 32 receptions, 489 yards and 6 touchdowns. He averaged – averaged – 10.8 yards after the catch, per Pro Football Focus, and Love had a ridiculous 157.2 passer rating when targeting Kraft. He’s not going to be easy to replace, and no reasonable observer should expect any one player to do so. Head Coach Matt LaFleur said precisely that this week.
But it does offer a tantalizing opportunity for the Packers’ No. 2 tight end to finally shine.
Coming out of his college career at Oregon State, Musgrave earned a 9.95 Relative Athletic Score. He was a second-round pick for a reason, folks. And heck, he was drafted one round ahead of Kraft, so clearly the Packers were sold on the promise he offered.
Musgrave’s measurables are, in a word, ridiculous. He’s a six-foot-five, 253-pound gazelle, as tight ends go. He earned an elite grade in his level of explosiveness. He has all the tools of a down-the-seam monster.
The main drawback is, thanks in part to his injuries and the emergence of Kraft, we simply haven’t seen more than flashes at the NFL level.
For his part, Musgrave, while he isn’t openly predicting a breakout, sounds confident and ready to go to work.
“I'm focused on how I show up on film, that I'm playing with good energy, good effort,” he told the media this week when discussing his three receptions Sunday following Kraft’s injury. "I always prepare like I'm going to play in a full capacity, so my preparation is going to be the same."
"But I think that we're all confident in what Luke brings to the offense,” Packers wide receiver Christian Watson said of his teammate this week. “I'm excited to see him get a little bit of spotlight again."
All that said, if a breakout is imminent, it may not be in the offing this week. No tight end has gone for more than 61 yards – and that was savvy veteran Travis Kelce (yes, Taylor Swift’s fiance) – against the Eagles this season. Sledding is likely going to be tough for the Packers’ offense on Monday night.
Musgrave is not Tucker Kraft; he’s not a yards-after-the-catch monster like his teammate, and in all honesty, it sometimes seems like Musgrave goes down too easily when hit.
But what we would all like to see from No. 88 is to offer Love a trustworthy set of hands and the ability to get open down the field. Let’s hope he might develop into a reliable third-down option to take some of the heat off of Romeo Doubs in must-have scenarios.
Musgrave has the hands, size and speed to do all of the above, and mismatch opportunities against linebackers and safeties should be plentiful down the stretch, especially when Jayden Reed returns to the lineup.
Let’s see if, with an extended look in the lineup, Musgrave can – in the words of LaFleur two years ago – “stay on his feet.”
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Kevin Gibson is a professional writer and author based in Louisville, Ky. He's also a former sports writer who covered high school, college and professional sports, a Packers shareholder and a fan since 1975. Even John Hadl couldn't break him. Follow him on Twitter: @kgramone
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Comments (31)
Spock
November 07, 2025 at 02:37 pm
"...and it’s going to be fun to find out the answer over the back half of the schedule." Let's hope it will be FUN to see. I'd love to have Musgrave have a breakout performance or two. I think I read somewhere that his blocking has improved. We shall see.
SicSemperTyrannis
November 08, 2025 at 11:41 am
#88 will not replace 85. MLF has to re-invent this offense. 6 O linemen is the only possibility I see for this to go well, and for that to be implemented Monday MLF has to be fully immersed in creating this by Monday morning at the latest. Which means he had to adjust his thinking almost as soon as #85: got hurt.
I don't see adjusting as a strength of MLF, so I fear the worst. Will he ever figure this out this season?
stockholder
November 07, 2025 at 02:57 pm
Yes- if Love throws to him.
Feed me- is on his shirt.
He'll be open.
jannesbjornson
November 07, 2025 at 06:18 pm
If a Linebacker covers him. Your guy, DeJean will run with him
HawkPacker
November 08, 2025 at 08:29 am
DeJean is a cb and not a linebacker!
jannesbjornson
November 08, 2025 at 10:38 am
That is correct. He is the nickel guy for Fangio. If he matches with Musgrave, he likely wins. If Musgrave can get on a LB he may have better odds to make a play. Philly has good cover Lbs in Baun and Campbell.
splitpea1
November 07, 2025 at 03:31 pm
We'll need either Musgrave or Golden to break out-- preferably both, so we want to see MLF put them in positions to succeed and Love throw them the ball. As evidenced by his rookie season, Musgrave can do a decent job gaining YAC, but he's not going to break tackles or run through the defense the way Kraft does.
It's been reported that Musgrave was on the trading block, with Denver and Jacksonville likely landing spots in exchange for a Day 3 pick. With Sims already gone and the Kraft injury, that idea evaporated quickly.
Don't forget about Whyle--I'd be more than happy for surprise contributions.
KurtMc
November 07, 2025 at 04:52 pm
"want to see MLF put them in positions to succeed" ha ha ha, Good one
Love the team, just not our HC
GPG
HawkPacker
November 08, 2025 at 08:31 am
Musgrave on the trading block for day 3 pick? Makes no sense and I never heard that one!
splitpea1
November 08, 2025 at 09:59 am
Reported on Acme.
SicSemperTyrannis
November 08, 2025 at 11:43 am
Musgrave never did anything with YAC, he stretched the seam and secured the ball.
pantz_bURp
November 07, 2025 at 04:00 pm
Yes, yes it is.
I am so confident in it, I will do my part. During the MNF game, I will blast that toe-tapper of a song Muskrat Love after each reception by #88.
Here is where it getz a little interesting. I will play the song in esrever so as to make it sound more like Love to Musgrave. After each positive block by ol'#88, I will grab my 45 with the Sneaky Snake song. If the Starrs align and we are in victory formation to close out the game...I will absolutely crank Baby Gotz Her Bluejeans On.
From now to henceforth I will tweek (not twerk, for you youngsterz) the Gregorian calendar to use BC and AB [Breakout Coming and then After Breakout].
It is Time. And this period of time shall be known as 3 BC. That was easy...
Come give your uncle a kiss,
Pantz in a 3 point Stanze
*after some deliberation, I feel we should hand out proctologist-looking gloves (with the G of course) to all Packer fans in attendance. The Pack will do their own tush push. Whether successful or not, the fans should wave their gloves in the air (like they don't care) while Salt n Pepper'z song "Push it Real Good" is reaching 141 decibels.
PatrickGB
November 07, 2025 at 05:31 pm
It’s plausible.
pantz_bURp
November 07, 2025 at 06:38 pm
Yes Patrick it is. And hopefully come Monday evening, applaudible. :)
We'll convert 4th and 26th this time on them!,
PB
I can almost hear Philadelphia Freedom coming out of my Bozaks already.
TKWorldWide
November 07, 2025 at 04:42 pm
He’s got ability, and now he’s got opportunity.
Let’s see what happens.
PeteK
November 08, 2025 at 09:12 am
Let's not forget 34 receptions 10.4 avg in 11 games in 23, before his injury he played like the real deal.
PatrickGB
November 07, 2025 at 05:10 pm
I got a good feeling about him.
Packers0808
November 07, 2025 at 05:29 pm
My guess he will be surprisingly good now that he has a full opportunity!
Leatherhead
November 07, 2025 at 05:48 pm
I'll be happy if he gets his guy blocked, catches a couple of passes, and doesn't do anything to hurt the team, like turning it over or committing a penalty.
I think that this week, the passing game is going to have to be Doubs, Watson, and Golden. They should all get 8 or more targets. I don't think you can dink and dunk with Jacobs and score enough points, so we're going to have to make some plays downfield. The only other path to victory would be if I thought we could dominate on the ground, but I'm not seeing that. We need some big plays in the air.
PeteK
November 08, 2025 at 09:19 am
The O line needs to play up to their potential like in the first two wks of the season. Also, Love needs to get rid of the ball and take what the D gives us, if inferior teams can do that to us, we can do it better. Tire their D out which in turn gives our D some needed rest.
PackerBackerAZ
November 08, 2025 at 10:31 am
Forget about week one. A Detroit team with a new offensive and defensive coordinator, with no real play experience, showed their newness.
The Commanders are not who we thought they were.
The o-line, after eight games, doesn't seem to have any more potential.
What Love will show up sans Kraft? The one that makes good decisions at crucial times or the bad one throwing picks? If the good Love shows up, I like the Packers chances.
SicSemperTyrannis
November 08, 2025 at 11:47 am
JL10 has only made horrible decisions while harassed. Get him some protection and that's fixed! 6 O linemen is not an option, it's essential.
Starrbrite
November 07, 2025 at 11:13 pm
“It Is Time”…Go Musgrave!
Go Packers!!!
marpag1
November 07, 2025 at 11:32 pm
In our dreams, yes, a Luke Musgrave breakout is definitely coming. He'll be a first team all-pro with 1500 yards and 10 TDs.
In reality? Hmm...
Maybe "a Luke Musgrave breakout" is setting the bar a bit high. I'll settle for "a Luke Musgrave indication of improvement."
SicSemperTyrannis
November 08, 2025 at 11:49 am
If he does as well as he did as a rookie that'd be a big improvement. If he blocks as well as Malik Heath and Savion Williams, I'll be surprised.
Snap the ball
November 07, 2025 at 11:48 pm
You have to throw it to him to break out.
So the crowd can go Luuuuuuukkkkkkkkkeeeeeeeeee
Packers by 8 plus
barutanseijin
November 08, 2025 at 09:42 am
Might as well ask if Jace Sternberger or Degaura are going to break out. Great RAS, lousy tight end. Goes down as soon as a defender touches him, sometimes even before, when he trips over the yard markers.
Joster11
November 08, 2025 at 10:18 am
I don't think he's as bad as those two. He was having a pretty solid rookie year until the lacerated kidney not only derailed his career but also kickstarted Kraft's. Hopefully, he takes this opportunity and runs (without tripping over his own feet) with it. The team needs him.
jannesbjornson
November 08, 2025 at 10:41 am
Kraft was always the better TE.
SicSemperTyrannis
November 08, 2025 at 11:49 am
Even that's ok. His yards per reception as a rookie was over 10.
brenner
November 08, 2025 at 10:53 pm
Hey... If he falls on his face as soon as he catches it, make sure it's past 25yd down field I'm ok with that... Maybe 1 in the end zone...
I'd like to see Jacob's get those outlets like tuck did. Let him get out in the flat and let him run.