The Luke Musgrave Experience might have to do with over.
The Green Bay Packers hoped their third-year tight end might complete very well after they lost Tucker Kraft to a season-ending knee injury on Nov. 2.
After Musgrave had a drop and a fumble on his only 2 targets in the very first half Sunday, he played simply 2 2nd half snaps. On the other side, John FitzPatrick played 16 snaps and Josh Whyle played 11.
Green Bay rallied late to beat the New york city Giants, 27-20.
” It will be intriguing to see simply how the rest of this thing opts for him,” Green Bay offending planner Adam Stenavich stated just recently of Musgrave.
It hasn’t worked out.
Musgrave, a 2nd round draft choice in 2023, had 3 catches for 23 backyards in Green Bay’s 10-7 loss to Philadelphia on Nov. 10. However the enduring impression of Musgrave’s night was stopping working to get a secret initially down late in the contest.
On a third-and-10 from the Green Bay 35-yard line with 1:51 left, quarterback Jordan Love tossed a pass in ideal flat for Musgrave, who captured it at the 40. Musgrave turned upfield and didn’t experience a protector till the 43.
At that point in the video game, any tight end worth his salt puts his shoulder into a protector’s chest and defend initially down yardage. Rather, Musgrave lunged for the very first down and showed up a backyard short.
On the taking place fourth-and-1 play, running back Josh Jacobs was picked up a 4-yard loss and fumbled attempting to turn the ball back to Love, ending the Packers’ finest possibility of connecting or winning the video game.
Versus the Giants, things were even worse.
On Green Bay’s opening ownership, Musgrave captured a brief pass, then fumbled after being struck by cornerback Cor’ Dale Flott. Thankfully for the Packers, the fumble headed out of bounds.
Then right before halftime, Musgrave made a reception in the ideal flat, was struck by linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and once again lost the ball. Authorities ruled the play a fumble that was recuperated by Flannigan-Fowles.
Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur challenged the play and won, permitting the Packers to keep the football. At that point, however, it was clear Green Bay had actually seen enough of Musgrave and he played simply 2 2nd half snaps.
” I simply wish to have fun with great energy, great effort, do my task,” Musgrave stated after Kraft’s injury. “That’s what I’m going to concentrate on.”
That hasn’t occurred. Rather, Musgrave has actually just penned the current chapter in an exceptionally frustrating profession.
Musgrave was chosen with the 42 nd total choice in the 2023 draft thanks in part to his unusual size (6-6, 253) and speed (4.61) ratio.
Musgrave flashed early and had 34 receptions his novice season, regardless of missing out on 6 video games with a lacerated kidney. Musgrave still connected the franchise record for many catches by a novice tight end set by Bubba Franks in 2000, and his 352 getting backyards were the third-most by a novice tight end in group history.
Musgrave missed out on 10 video games in 2024, however, with an ankle injury and ended up with simply 7 receptions for 45 backyards (6.4 average). Meantime, Kraft was becoming a star and Musgrave discovered it more difficult and more difficult to get on the field.
This season wasn’t far better, as Musgrave had simply 6 receptions through 7 video games and played 29.9% of the snaps before Kraft was hurt.
The Packers chose not to make a trade by the Nov. 4 due date and turn the No. 1 tight end task over to Musgrave.
” I believe he’s a various type of gamer than Tucker in the pass video game,” Stenavich stated of Musgrave. “He offers an actually great down-the-field risk. He’s got truly great speed. He’s long, great variety when he captures the ball. I believe that’ll simply type of put him in the leading edge of our offense as far as getting him more targets and things like that, to take control of that function.”
Today, Green Bay is certainly regretting its choice not to trade for another tight end, as Musgrave’s awful play has actually left the Packers with perhaps the worst tight end space in football.
” Simply concentrating on when I get my chances having fun with great effort and energy, concentrated on what’s on movie,” Musgrave stated just recently.
What’s on movie today definitely isn’t quite.
Source: Forbes.
