Tucker Kraft, recovering from an ACL tear suffered in Week 9 last season, says he anticipates playing in Green Bay’s Week 1 matchup without a pitch count—an update that has Packers fans paying close attention while the team weighs his readiness against the ris
Green Bay’s offseason has come with losses on the roster, but the most immediate sign of relief for Packers fans may be on the offense—especially at tight end.
Tucker Kraft tore his ACL in Week 9 of last season, and he’s been working his way back. Now, Kraft has shared an update that’s hard to ignore: he anticipates playing in Week 1 without a pitch count.
The message came via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, who posted on X, formerly Twitter, that “Tucker Kraft just said he anticipates playing Week 1 without a pitch count.”
For Green Bay, that kind of clarity matters. If Kraft is truly ready to return without restrictions, it gives the Packers a chance to get their passing game into rhythm quickly—something they’ll need if they’re going to compensate for key pieces they lost this offseason.
Before the injury, Kraft was producing at a level that made his name synonymous with quarterback confidence. He caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns. and he still finished tied with the most touchdowns on the team—alongside Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson. It’s the kind of stat line that suggests why the hope is so strong that he can come back and immediately raise the offense’s ceiling.
But the same reality that fuels excitement is also where teams have to be cautious. Even with Kraft’s Week 1 expectation. the Packers don’t want to rush him back onto the field or force a timeline just because the calendar says it’s time. His recovery may be going well. yet the stakes of returning from an ACL tear mean restrictions—or at least restraint—aren’t something you treat lightly.
That tension sits alongside a bigger internal storyline involving the Packers’ wide receiver group. After Watson received his extension, he advocated for Kraft to be next in line for a contract extension. When asked about whether he had knowledge of a new Kraft deal, Watson said, “Honestly I don’t. I’m trying to put it out in the air. Trying to speak it into existence and hopefully it’s sooner rather than later.”.
Now, Jordan Love is expected to have pass catchers in place that can keep the offense moving through the season, and the Packers hope to be among the better teams in the league because of it. Kraft would only make that case stronger—if he can hit the ground running to start the season.
The Week 1 timeline is already creating buzz, but the real question will be how Kraft looks when games matter. His confidence in a full return without a pitch count is the headline moment. Green Bay’s caution will decide what happens next.
Tucker Kraft Green Bay Packers Week 1 ACL recovery tight end Jordan Love Romeo Doubs Christian Watson Matt Schneidman