Now almost two months into the regular season, the Green Bay Packers are still uncertain if tight end Luke Musgrave will play at all during the 2026 season.
Musgrave has been on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list since the start of training camp after suffering a neck injury during the offseason workout program.
When asked on Thursday if Musgrave would play this season, Packers coach Matt LaFleur provided a gloomy answer: "It's tough to say right now. I mean, until proven otherwise, I would say no. But I would never close the door on that."
Musgrave, a second-round pick in the 2023 draft, missed all of training camp and the preseason and has not been cleared to return to practice as the Packers enter Week 7 of the regular season.
Back in
late July, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said the team would be extra cautious with a neck injury.
"You know, around here, with heads, necks and hearts, it's a little bit more sensitive than some of the other injuries," Gutekunst said. "You have to take it a little slower and make sure what you know is what you know. This is a neck injury, so we'll take our time and make sure we know what we know before we put him at any kind of risk."
Last season, Musgrave caught 24 passes for 252 yards while playing 428 total snaps. He's been plagued by injuries since entering the NFL, missing time as a rookie due to a lacerated kidney and missing all but seven games in 2024 with a significant ankle injury.
At tight end, the Packers have Tucker Kraft entrenched as a starter, veteran Jonnu Smith as a pass-catching option and backups Josh Whyle and Mark Redman -- who was acquired via trade to start the 2026 season -- as blockers.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers uncertain if TE Luke Musgrave (neck) will play during 2026 season
