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Sunday's game was a nightmare for the Green Bay Packers. Beyond the 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers, losing tight end Tucker Kraft for the rest of the season is gut-wrenching — outside of quarterback Jordan Love, Kraft is the most important piece of the offensive structure.At this point, it's not viable to fully replicate what Kraft does. The Packers do have Luke Musgrave and John FitzPatrick on the roster, and they'll have specific roles — but both are completely different from what Kraft has to offer. Josh Whyle is on the practice squad and could be elevated or promoted if needed as well. Replacement options at tight end On the market, there are some trade options. However, it's hard to imagine the Packers using more high draft capital or acquiring expensive deals — that's why Baltimore Ravens' Mark Andrews and Cleveland Browns' David Njoku are not likely alternatives. Las Vegas Raiders' Michael Mayer wouldn't be cheap either in terms of trade compensation.Because the Titans are selling veterans, Chigoziem Okonkwo could be a realistic target. The trade cost wouldn't be high, his prorated salary in the final year of his rookie deal wouldn't reach $2 million, and he's a versatile player who can receive and block. Practice squad options Last year, when Luke Musgrave got hurt, the Packers went and signed John FitzPatrick off the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad. And this type of move has been a common trend for general manager Brian Gutekunst.Searching around other teams' practice squads, the most intriguing option would be veteran Marcedes Lewis. He signed with the Denver Broncos last week and was elevated to play against the Houston Texans, but will revert back to the PS on Monday and could sign with another team. At 41, though, he doesn't offer much in the passing game.The list includes some other former Packers players, like Sal Cannella (Cleveland Browns), Joel Wilson (Tennessee Titans), and Messiah Swinson (Arizona Cardinals). There are also varied alternatives from other teams, like Jordan Akins (Jacksonville Jaguars), Albert Okwuegbunam (Las Vegas Raiders), Nick Vannett (Minnesota Vikings), and Brayden Willis (San Francisco 49ers).Realistically, the Packers will not be able to replace Tucker Kraft and everything he can do for the offense. For the most part, it's going to be a collective effort to spread his role among multiple players — Jayden Reed, when he gets back, can offer the ability to generate yards after the catch, Musgrave is a big target down the middle, and FitzPatrick is a viable blocker. It's a huge loss, and head coach Matt LaFleur has to be creative to mitigate it down the road. This article was originally published on A to Z Sports Green Bay, as "Packers still have time to explore tight end replacement options after Tucker Kraft's devastating knee injury."
