BOMBSHELL: Packers' Luke Musgrave era just ended in real time with one ruthless decision
Tucker Kraft is truly irreplaceable, and that statement has been reinforced in both games without him.
The Green Bay Packers knew Luke Musgrave couldn’t replace Kraft’s production. He’s a different player. Kraft wins with his physicality after the catch, whereas Musgrave is more of a vertical threat with his speed and athleticism. But we’ve seen precious little of that in the two games since Kraft’s injury, and it sure looks like the Packers have already given up.
After a disastrous start to the game, Matt LaFleur effectively benched his former second-round pick at halftime. Musgrave played just 19 snaps, fewer than Josh Whyle (20) and John FitzPatrick (35).
Packers gave up on Luke Musgrave midway through the win over Giants
Musgrave contributed fewer yards than you or me in the Packers’ win over the New York Giants, catching one pass for minus one yard. He also fumbled once and dropped another pass, which had also initially been ruled a fumble.
LaFleur can’t rely on him to block, and if he’s failing to make an impact as a pass-catcher, he becomes unplayable. According to Justis Mosqueda of Acme Packing Company, Musgrave played only two snaps in the second half.
It’s concerning when Musgrave, a 2023 second-round pick, is getting out-snapped by a tight end the Packers signed to the active roster from their practice squad on November 4. Whyle was a fifth-round pick in the same draft class as Musgrave, but signed with Green Bay’s practice squad after failing to make the Tennessee Titans’ final roster this summer.
It’s a significant shift at tight end. Musgrave played 30 snaps in Week 9, coming off the bench to replace Kraft, and then 52 in a full-time role against the Philadelphia Eagles last week. But his 18 snaps this week were his fourth-fewest
Musgrave does offer some pass-catching talent, but he isn’t making enough of an impact there. And the Packers can’t trust him to consistently make plays as a blocker. Defenses know that, too.
The Packers have paper-thin depth at tight end following Kraft’s injury. How quickly they sent Musgrave to the bench is a massive statement, but not surprising. LaFleur had no choice.
Pittsburgh Steelers' Potential QB For The 2026 Season Will Make Fans Frustrated As Horrendous Trend Could Continue
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been stuck in quarterback purgatory ever since Ben Roethlisberger decided to retire after the 2021 season. The organization has already tried drafting a QB in the first round of the NFL Draft, and ever since that did not work out, signing veteran quarterbacks has been the solution. In 2024, it was Russell Wilson, and in 2025, it has been Aaron Rodgers. Both players had good moments with the Steelers and Rodgers has played well for the most part, but much of the fan base is tired of the Band-Aid fix at the position. Fans want to see a franchise signal-caller again, and the best way to get one is in the draft.
There is a chance that Rodgers could be back for the 2026 season, but he is only on a one-year deal currently and retirement seems like a real possibility for the four-time league MVP. That could leave Pittsburgh starting a different quarterback in Week 1 for the fifth straight season, and the only question is who that quarterback will be.
ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell discussed the 2026 quarterback carousel in a recent article, and he gave some options for the Steelers to consider for the 2026 season.
"Will there be a veteran who represents a significant upgrade available via trade or in free agency?" Barnwell asked. "Unless the Steelers feel strongly about [Kyler] Murray (and the Cardinals do decide to move on from him), the answer is probably not, which could mean another go-round with Rodgers if he wants to keep playing. The alternatives might be someone such as Kirk Cousins or Joe Flacco, who profile as higher-variance versions of Rodgers."
Barnwell wondered if there is a clear upgrade over Rodgers that will be available in free agency or via trade, and the only name he brought up was Kyler Murray. There is no certainty that Murray is an upgrade over Rodgers. He has struggled immensely over the last couple seasons, and his soft-benching in 2025 shouldn't inspire any franchise to pursue him as a starter.
Murray should not be an option for Pittsburgh, especially because of his current contract. The only world he should be considered if he is released in a similar fashion to the way Wilson was from the Denver Broncos, and Pittsburgh could then sign Murray for cheap. Other options mentioned by Barnwell included Joe Flacco and Kirk Cousins, or another year of Rodgers.
While Flacco, Cousins, and Rodgers could win some games for Pittsburgh, the fan base wants more than just winning games. The franchise needs to take a step forward, and that means doing some sort of a rebuild during the 2026 offseason. Many fans want the team to take a swing on a quarterback early on in the 2026 NFL Draft, or decide to start Will Howard and give him a chance for a season. Pittsburgh has shown time and time again that it will not be a contender regardless of how many desperation moves are made. The quarterback situation needs to be solved first and foremost, and that won't happen by bringing in another past-their-prime veteran at the position.
Steelers Should View Will Howard As A Legitimate Starting Option In 2026
Pittsburgh drafted Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he suffered an injury during training camp and never got to see the field during the preseason. He was finally activated off of Injured Reserve during Week 11, and hopefully the coaching staff sees some good development during practice. The rookie quarterback has the build of a starter, and he also has enough mobility to get around at the NFL level.
Howard should be given a shot to start at some point, and he should certainly be considered for the 2026 season. Pundits say it is better to get a young guy in at the position, then go with an aging veteran for the third straight season.
