Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said tight end Luke Musgrave has a “serious” ankle injury and is “more than likely” headed to injured reserve, although the team is hopeful Musgrave will return this season.
“He’s been dealing with something and fighting through, so he’s going to be down for some time,” LaFleur said Thursday.
Musgrave didn’t practice last week but was active as an emergency option at tight end against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. He then practiced Wednesday in a limited capacity before missing Thursday’s practice.
LaFleur said Musgrave’s ability to fight through the significant injury speaks to his “toughness” and “competitiveness,” but he also admitted the Packers didn’t initially know the severity of the ankle injury.
“I don’t think we understood how serious it was,” LaFleur said.
LaFleur said “the hope” is that Musgrave returns and plays again this season.
Over four games, Musgrave caught five passes.
This will be the second time on injured reserve in two seasons for Musgrave. He suffered a lacerated kidney in November of last year and missed six games.
Without Musgrave, the Packers will move forward with Tucker Kraft and Ben Sims at tight end. Kraft looks like a blossoming star. LaFleur said Sims has “done a nice job” in his role, and he thinks he can make plays in the passing game while also contributing as an inline blocker.
The team will also add John FitzPatrick, who is being signed off the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons.
“Bigger, wide body. I heard he’s a great guy. We’re excited to have him here,” LaFleur said.
Going on injured reserve will require Musgrave, a 2023 second-round pick, to miss at least four games, although it sounds like his absence will be longer than a month.