As they get ready for their next game in Week 15, the Green Bay Packers have taken a positive step with one of their injured playmakers by allowing tight end Luke Musgrave to return to practice for the first time since September 29.
Before the first practice on December 11, the Packers formally opened Musgrave’s 21-day activation window off the injured reserve list, which might allow him to rejoin the 53-man roster and play in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks.
During the game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4, Musgrave hurt his ankle, but he tried to play through it. He did not play any snaps in Week 5 but was still active for the Packers’ subsequent game against the Los Angeles Rams. On October 11, the team officially placed him on injured reserve and shut him down.
Musgrave’s involvement in the next two practices should be instructive, but the Packers still need to activate him to the 53-man roster before Sunday’s game against the Seahawks. This will require a corresponding move to open up a roster space.
For Week 15’s Sunday Night Football highlight, the Packers (9-4) will take on the Seahawks (8-5) at Lumen Field in Seattle on December 15 at 8:20 p.m. Eastern Time.
Musgrave, Luke stood out for the Packers as a rookie in 2023.
There is less excitement about Musgrave’s return to practice than there would have been a year ago. That is because Tucker Kraft, who was selected one round later but in the same class as Musgrave, has excelled in his second season with Green Bay. In the first 13 games, Kraft leads the Packers with seven touchdown receptions, has the second-most receptions (39), and the third-most receiving yards (521).
Despite this, Musgrave remains a strong vertical threat who made an impression in 2023 as a rookie.
Musgrave, a 2023 second-round selection, played in 11 games and made nine starts for the Packers in his rookie campaign, hauling in 34 passes for 352 yards and a touchdown on 46 targets. As a route runner, he shown exceptional speed and dexterity, and he utilized both to open up the mid-to-deep field for quarterback Jordan Love.
Musgrave could have accomplished even more if he had not injured his kidney in Week 11 and missed the following six games as he healed. He demonstrated this throughout the playoffs by catching six of his seven targets for 66 yards and a touchdown, including a three-for-three showing during their victory against Dallas in the wild-card round.
Musgrave did not appear to be as productive at the beginning of the 2024 season. During the first four games, he only caught five passes and never gained more than 13 receiving yards. Additionally, Kraft’s breakout will probably restrict his offensive output when he rejoins the team.
But for their postseason run, the Packers will need all the assistance they can get.
Packers Injuries Seem to Be Improving Before the Seahawks
Ahead of the Seahawks’ first practice on Wednesday, the Packers got more positive injury news than just Musgrave. In addition, the Packers welcomed back rookie cornerback Corey Ballentine and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who both missed the full practice week before to Week 14’s game against Detroit.
Cooper, a 2024 second-round selection, has been sidelined due to a hamstring issue and has not practiced since November 20. His limited involvement at Wednesday means that the Packers will have to wait until he completes the practice week before allowing him to return to play.
Coach Matt LaFleur stated that wide receiver Romeo Doubs is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol, but the Packers also had rookie safety Evan Williams (concussion), cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee), and wide receiver Romeo Doubs (concussion) practice Monday.
The only Packers player not to show up for Wednesday’s first practice of Week 15 was Javon Bullard, the team’s starting nickel cornerback and rotational safety. He missed Week 14’s loss to the Lions due to an ankle injury, from which he is still healing.
