Packers-Cardinals Injury Report: Luke Musgrave to Injured Reserve

After missing the victory over the Rams with an injured ankle, Luke Musgrave is going to be placed on injured reserve. That is why the Packers have added John FitzPatrick.

Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave (88) catches a pass from Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) vs. the Colts. / Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers will be placing tight end Luke Musgrave on injured reserve, coach Matt LaFleur said after Thursday’s practice.

Musgrave did not practice last week and did not play in the victory over the Rams due to an injured ankle. He practiced in limited capacity on Wednesday but did not practice on Thursday. LaFleur said Musgrave has been trying to fight through the injury but the team has decided to shut him down.

“He’s going to be down for some time,” LaFleur said. 

Last year, Musgrave sustained a lacerated kidney against the Chargers but stayed on the field. So, that he was at least available to face the Rams is a testament to his toughness.

“The fact that he even suited up this last game was pretty impressive,” LaFleur said. “I don’t think we understood how serious it was.”

A stint on injured reserve mean Musgrave can neither play nor practice for four weeks. Game 1 will be Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

His absence explains why the Packers signed John FitzPatrick off the Falcons’ practice squad earlier in the day. He’s a player the team was interested in before the 2022 draft, LaFleur said.

FitzPatrick hopes to arrive in Green Bay on Thursday night so he can practice on Friday.

The injury is the latest twist in a disappointing second season for Musgrave, who as a rookie last year tied the franchise’s rookie record for most receptions by a tight end despite missing six games with a lacerated kidney.

Rather than a big Year 2 jump, he’s taken a background role behind Tucker Kraft.

To start this season, Musgrave played 17 snaps against the Eagles, 31 against the Colts, 35 against the Titans and 25 snaps against the Vikings.

Contrast that to last season, when he played at least 40 snaps in nine of 10 games before suffering the kidney injury against the Chargers in the 10th game.

The Packers have been tight-lipped about the downturn in playing time, though it probably has more to do with the emergence of Kraft than anything else.

“I know I say this every time I’m up here, these guys are great guys,” tight ends coach John Dunn said when asked about Musgrave recently. “They do whatever you ask them to do, they do it to the best of their abilities. Each game plan when you get into it is a little different, and even within games it goes different.

“So, at some point it might go the other way. That has no underlying anything to do with Luke. Just every game plan’s a little different.”

With Musgrave held on the sideline and with receivers Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson not in the lineup, tight end Ben Sims played 19 snaps against the Rams compared to a combined 11 the first four games.

“I thought last week he handled himself the way we would expect him to,” LaFleur said of Sims. “I think he and Luke are different players but I think he’s a versatile guy that can give us whatever we need.””

Against the Cardinals on Sunday, Kraft figures to take the lion’s share of the reps again with Sims the next man up.

Assuming Kraft is healthy. When Kraft talked after practice, reporters were not aware that he had been added to the injury report as limited participation with a groin injury. His status will be important to monitor on Friday, the final practice of the week and when LaFleur reveals the final injury report.

For the Cardinals, right tackle Kelvin Beachum returned to practice after missing the end of the San Francisco game with a hamstring injury. However, rookie defensive tackle Darius Robinson, who is trying to come back from injured reserve, went from limited to did not participate due to his calf.

Packers Thursday Injury Report

Did not participate: DT Devonte Wyatt (ankle), TE Luke Musgrave (ankle).

Limited: CB Jaire Alexander (groin), DT Kenny Clark (toe), LB Edgerrin Cooper (hip), DT Jonathan Ford (calf; IR/designated to return), LG Elgton Jenkins (knee), TE Tucker Kraft (groin), OL Jordan Morgan (shoulder), CB Carrington Valentine (ankle), WR Christian Watson (ankle).

Full: S Zayne Anderson (elbow), DE Arron Mosby (shoulder), RT Zach Tom (shoulder).

Cardinals Thursday Injury Report

Did not participate: DL Darius Robinson (calf).

Limited: RT Kelvin Beachum (hamstring), LG Evan Brown (hamstring), WR Zay Jones (hamstring), LB Jesse Luketa (shoulder), DL Bilal Nichols (finger), K Matt Prater (left knee), CB Garrett Williams (groin).

Full: OL Christian Jones (ankle).

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The #Packers have a new tight end who played his final season at Georgia with broken bones in both feet.https://t.co/iOPRoHYXsZ

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) October 10, 2024

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