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Rob DeMovsky, ESPN staff writer
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Luke Musgrave had no idea how serious his ankle injury was when it first happened in the Green Bay Packers’ Week 4 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
The second-year tight end finished that game and even adjusted to the next one, although he didn’t take the field in the Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Rams. He even practiced one day the following week before the Packers shut him down.
Nearly 11 weeks after last playing in a game, Musgrave returned to practice Wednesday and revealed he suffered a torn ligament in his left ankle that required surgery from Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“We didn’t know he probably needed surgery until after Rams Week,” Musgrave said Wednesday.
Musgrave said he only did individual drills in Wednesday’s practice, so it’s unlikely he’ll be cleared to play for Sunday’s game at the Seattle Seahawks; He would need to be added to the active roster, although the Packers still have an open spot on their 53-man roster. But the hope is that Musgrave can return long before a possible playoff rematch against the Seahawks, or whoever the Packers will face in a wild-card playoff game.
“I think it’s practical,” Musgrave said when asked about a timeline for returning. “I don’t know if there’s a timeline, but as soon as it’s possible for them to let me go, I’ll go.”
Musgrave, who has just five catches for 22 yards this season, has missed 15 of a possible 30 games since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2023. He missed six games last season due to a lacerated kidney.
Meanwhile, Tucker Kraft (39 catches for 521 yards and seven touchdowns) has emerged as the Packers’ go-to tight end. But the often-expected, rarely seen combination of Kraft and Musgrave could finally come to fruition as the Packers (9-4) make a playoff push.
Picked one round apart, Musgrave in the second round and Kraft in the third, in the 2023 NFL Draft, the pair of tight ends have been on the field at the same time for just 125 total snaps in their careers, according to ESPN Research . Only 54 of them have been this season.
“It would be big time,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. “I think the last time we had it was really during training camp, having both guys out there. And it definitely changes the plays we call and some of the formations we have and the personnel groupings.
“It’s been tough not having Luke around, so to get him back and get back on the field would be big.”
The Packers got more promising injury news on Wednesday, when cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) was a full participant in practice for the first time since his last game action on Nov. 17 against the Bears. Catcher Romeo Doubs was also a full participant for the first time since his concussion on Nov. 24, a sign that he is in the final stages of the Concussion Protocol.
Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper also practiced Wednesday for the first time since the hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last three games.
However, the Packers could be without a pair of defensive backs because safety/nickelback Javon Bullard (ankle) did not practice and safety Evan Williams practiced on a limited basis but was still in concussion protocol.
