Back at practice, Luke Musgrave hopes to aid Packers' final push

GREEN BAY – In a very short time, Luke Musgrave has proven he’s about as tough as they come.

Exhibit A: The Packers tight end suffered a Grade 4 lacerated kidney against the Los Angeles Chargers last season and yet still finished the game before going to the emergency room later that night.

That in mind, it should come as no surprise Musgrave gritted through 25 snaps after getting his ankle badly twisted at the start of Green Bay’s Week 4 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.

“Pain’s never really been a huge limiting factor for me,” said Musgrave on Wednesday. “We spatted it, and it was all right, so I just kind of kept on going. It felt odd, but I thought I was going to be fine.”

To the point Musgrave still dressed, but didn’t play, the next week against the Los Angeles Rams. But after practicing the following Wednesday, Musgrave and the Packers’ training staff concluded something bigger was going on.

A consultation with renowned ankle surgeon Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte led to a recommendation Musgrave undergo surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left ankle.

“The ankle was really loose,” said Musgrave on Wednesday. “I went down (to North Carolina) and they were going to see and then they scoped it and he felt it and was like you’re going to need surgery.”

After three months of rehab and recovery, Musgrave returned to practice Wednesday. The 6-foot-6, 253-pound tight end is the third player Green Bay has designated to return from injured reserve this season, opening a 21-day window for Musgrave to be activated to the 53-man roster.

The second-year tight end’s return to practice comes with good timing for Green Bay, which has been getting healthier on the offensive side of the ball as it looks to mount a playoff push.

A second-round pick out of Oregon State last year, Musgrave managed to tie the franchise single-season record for most catches by a rookie tight end (34) despite missing six games.

“This is exactly where we thought we’d be,” said Head Coach Matt LaFleur of Musgrave’s return Wednesday. “He’s done a nice job with the rehab and we’ll see where he is, as we move forward (and) how quickly he can get back.”

Like nearly all the Packers’ skill-position players, Musgrave brings an irreplaceable skill set to the offense given his unique blend of size and speed, including a 1.54-second 10-yard split that led all tight ends at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

When the Packers drafted Musgrave in the second round and South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft in the third last year, they were optimistic they’d secured a potent one-two punch at the position.

While early signs are promising – Kraft has 39 catches for 521 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns this year – it’s been a challenge getting them both on the field at the same time.

Even when Musgrave was completely healthy this past summer, Kraft missed the offseason program and most of training camp with a torn pectoral muscle.

“It would be big time,” said quarterback Jordan Love when asked about the prospect of having Kraft and Musgrave available down the stretch. “It definitely changes the way we can call some plays. It’s been tough not having Luke out there, so to get him back healthy and back out on the field would be big time.”

Watching his teammates practice was the hardest part of the road back for Musgrave, which made putting the pads back on Wednesday a pivotal checkpoint.

Yes, he was limited and performing strictly individual drills, but those little victories matter. The 24-year-old tight end hit another major checkpoint last week when he hit 20 miles per hour again in his sprints.

His next goal: “To get back out there” on gameday.

“I think the best moments are when your body’s able to do what you know it can do,” Musgrave said. “Like hitting a top speed – you’ve got to find little goals – so for me it was hitting 20 miles an hour. That was a big goal for me.

“Just those little goals, getting back and getting your body back.”

Musgrave acknowledges he’s had some bad luck during his first two NFL seasons but recognizes that’s part of the game.

“It’s that I can get out there and contribute in a positive way with the team,” Musgrave said of his mindset. “Whether it’s a limited role, wherever they see me – whenever that time comes, we’ll be back.”