The Green Bay Packers had to have loved what they saw out of tight end Tucker Kraft as a rookie. Now, heading into his second season with extremely high expectations, Kraft is already making headlines.
Unfortunately for Kraft and everyone in Green Bay, the news coming out of Packers OTAs is that Kraft hasn't been participating because of an injury he suffered over the offseason.
To his credit, it wasn't an injury he suffered while golfing, surfing or "clubbing." The 6-foot-5, 259-pound tight end was working out, and while he was on the last rep of his last set of bench press, he suffered a nasty pectoral injury.
What happened?
“Just a regular lift . It was my last rep of the day on bench. Nothing crazy, not heavy weight. We were speed-benching and it just popped right off the bone," Kraft told Bill Huber of Packer Central.
The Packers have a pectoral problem; ironically, all the injuries have come from lifting weights.
Right tackle Zach Tom suffered a torn pectorals while weightlifting earlier in the offseason. Even head coach Matt LaFleur is in a sling because of a torn pec he suffered while throwing up plates.
If there's any good news for Green Bay? Both Tom and Kraft are expected to be back by training camp. The bad news? Both players are missing important off-season reps right now.
“I’m just ready to take off in this league and establish myself as a football player, really. That’s where my frustration lies,” Kraft explained. "I was really excited about this offseason — to have the whole offseason."
Kraft really came into his own at the end of his rookie season as he became a consistently open target for quarterback Jordan Love. After catching just two passes heading into November, the South Dakota State product finished the season with 31 catches for 355 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 11.5 yards per catch.
