Tucker Kraft's Return Could Make Him Jordan Love's Top Target in Green Bay
Injuries plagued the Green Bay Packers after a notable start to the 2025 NFL season, hampering the team down the stretch of the year. Star tight end Tucker Kraft was among the biggest losses.
Coming off a breakout campaign in 2024, Kraft entered the 2025 season poised to build on his performance in the previous year and cement his case as one of the league's top tight ends. Over Green Bay's first eight games, that looked to be the case. The star tight end hauled in 32 of his 44 targets, racking up 489 yards and six touchdowns with two 120-yard performances in just the first half of the season.
During the Packers' Week 9 loss to the Carolina Panthers, though, the offense endured a massive hit to the passing game. Kraft went down with a torn ACL in the third quarter, putting an early end to a memorable 2025 performance. He averaged a career-high 61.1 yards per game and was well on his way to the first 1,000-yard campaign of his career.
Now entering his fourth season, Kraft is slated to return for action in Week 1 of the 2026 season and will likely command significant volume in a new-look Packers pass-catching unit. With Romeo Doubs out, inking a deal with the New England Patriots in free agency, Kraft is slated to take over as the team's premier threat in the passing game.
Jordan Love Should Target Tucker Kraft Early And Often In The Packers' 2026 Campaign
Over the past two seasons, Kraft has emerged as Jordan Love's most-trusted target in the passing game. The former third-round pick has developed into a quarterback-friendly target, catching 72.7% of his targets in 2025, and will be rewarded for it early in the 2026 season.
With Doubs out the door, Kraft will join elite company at his position as his offense's primary target on pass downs. His efficient route-running, consistent hands and overall production will force head coach Matt LaFleur to operate his passing attack through Kraft, a promising sign for an offense that has endured plenty of drop concerns over the past few seasons.
Utilizing Kraft more frequently in the intermediate passing game will help deep-threats such as Christian Watson and Matthew Golden find greater space on vertical routes, with defenses keying on the threat of Kraft over the middle. This game plan can help Green Bay's offense recapture its high level of production displayed early in the 2025 season, and throughout the 2024 campaign, when Kraft posted career-highs with 707 yards and seven touchdowns.
Love and the rest of the Packers' offense will welcome its star tight end back to the lineup, as Green Bay looks to bounce back in 2026.
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This story was originally published June 25, 2026 at 6:00 AM.