Tucker Kraft will return from a torn ACL against the Minnesota Vikings, immediately complicating Brian Flores’ Week 1 pressure plan. Green Bay’s tight end can punish Minnesota underneath, block on the move, and turn routine catches into gains that wreck a defensive call.
The Packers just reinforced their belief in the 25-year-old with a four-year, $75 million extension that can reach $92 million. Kraft produced 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games last season before tearing his ACL on Nov. 2.
The Vikings shouldn’t treat him like the fully restored version right away. Make him prove he can repeatedly block, change direction, and survive contact during his first real game in more than 10 months.
Brian Flores can test Tucker Kraft without overworking Harrison Smith
Due to his size, physicality, and alignment flexibility to follow Kraft without declaring the coverage, Josh Metellus should draw many of the underneath assignments. That also preserves Harrison Smith’s value as a disguise piece, allowing Smith to rotate into passing lanes or pressure Jordan Love instead of chasing a 259-pound tight end across the formation for all four quarters.
Jamming Kraft is one option, but Flores can create a much tougher test throughout the play. Minnesota should force him to sift through traffic, block Dallas Turner or Andrew Van Ginkel on split-zone action, and finish catches with Metellus arriving immediately. Practice is one thing -- a reconstructed knee can feel fine in that environment. Game action, with bodies flying everywhere at full speed, will feel different.
Kraft originally wanted to open Week 1 without restrictions, though the Packers acknowledged during his recovery that they could monitor his workload. He returned to team drills in August and wasn’t listed on Green Bay’s Week 1 injury report, so Minnesota didn't build its plan around him being limited.
As for Smith, his own workload deserves similar attention. The 37-year-old missed the entire preseason ramp-up before reuniting with the team last week. Even though he carries no game designation, asking him to play every snap against Kraft would be silly.
No doubt Flores will have the best answer: Metellus underneath, Smith disguising where the help is coming from, and Minnesota’s front making Kraft block. If Green Bay wants to feature its newly paid tight end immediately, Flores should make him earn every one of those snaps.
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