Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst delivered an encouraging injury update Tuesday regarding linebacker Micah Parsons and tight end Tucker Kraft, telling SiriusXM NFL Radio that both players are progressing well from torn ACL injuries sustained during the 2025 season and are expected back early in the 2026 campaign.
“They’re doing great,” Gutekunst said. “Tuck’s been in here every day, and he’s obviously a little bit ahead of schedule, just because his injury happened earlier than Micah’s did. But Micah’s such a — he’s a little bit of a freak. So I think some of that has taken over, and he’s doing really well, as well. So, certainly expect both of those guys back early in the season.”
Kraft suffered his torn ACL against the Carolina Panthers in Week 9, prematurely ending what had been a breakout season. Parsons, acquired by Green Bay in a high-profile trade from Dallas, suffered his own torn ACL against the Denver Broncos in Week 15. The timing difference between the two injuries is a meaningful factor in their respective recovery trajectories, with Kraft’s earlier injury date giving him a head start in the rehabilitation process.
Parsons said earlier this year that his medical team has described him as progressing quickly and that he has his sights set on a return in the first quarter of the 2026 season. “In September I want to be at a really good spot,” Parsons said. “So far, they say I’m fine.” Parsons also said he does not expect to begin the season on the injured reserve list, meaning he would be eligible to make his 2026 debut before Week 5.
CBS Sports injury analyst Marty Jaramillo noted that one of the biggest challenges Parsons will face in his recovery is the muscular strengthening required to handle the physical demands of high-level pass rushing. Parsons acknowledged that reality himself, saying, “Practicing hard and getting ready to sustain taking my body through what I go through — I think it’s just more of that.”
The return of both players carries significant implications for Green Bay’s prospects heading into 2026. In the 14 games he appeared in last season, Parsons recorded 41 tackles, 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a defended pass. After Parsons went down for the year, Green Bay’s defense was no longer able to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. On offense, the Packers’ passing attack will also be impacted by Kraft’s availability. Both Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are gone from the receiver room, which should open up more opportunity for Kraft as a target for quarterback Jordan Love.
The Packers were a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the NFC last season before injuries derailed their year. With both stars expected to return early in 2026, Green Bay’s ceiling rises significantly. Gutekunst’s update marks the most substantive public acknowledgment of either player’s recovery status since the offseason began, and it signals growing confidence within the organization that the Packers will have two of their most important contributors available for the bulk of the upcoming season.
