The two roster moves expected to happen arrived on Friday afternoon. The Green Bay Packers placed tight end Luke Musgrave on injured reserve, which opened a roster spot for the signing of tight end John FitzPatrick off the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons.
Musgrave is dealing with a serious ankle injury and will miss at least the next four games. He practiced Wednesday but was then shut down as the Packers better understood the severity of his injury. Musgrave won’t be eligible to come off injured reserve until after the team’s Week 10 bye.
In need of depth at tight end after losing Musgrave, the Packers signed FitzPatrick, a draft pick of the Falcons who had a “30” visit to Green Bay before the 2022 draft. The former Georgia Bulldog is 6-7 and 262 pounds, giving him potential as in-line run-blocker.
Coach Matt LaFleur didn’t think FitzPatrick would be able to help the Packers right away, noting the “tall task” of playing after arriving late in the week. He also said Falcons coach Raheem Morris told him they were “upset to lose” FitzPatrick.
“He has the size and skill set you look for,” LaFleur said.
The Packers also have Ben Sims at tight end. Starter Tucker Kraft, who has 10 catches and three touchdowns over the last two games, is off the injury report and good to go for Sunday after suffering a groin injury mid-week.
Musgrave, who lacerated his kidney and missed six games last season, has been on injured reserve each of his first two NFL seasons. He also missed multiple games during his sophomore and senior seasons at Oregon State.