Tucker Kraft’s comeback with the Green Bay Packers goes back to the place where his football journey actually began. The TE grew up in Timber Lake, South Dakota. There, he played so many sports and took on almost every role his teams needed. Those roots sort of helped shape the confidence Kraft now carries into his recovery from a torn ACL.
The injury ended his breakout 2025 season after only eight games. But Kraft has remained firm about returning for Green Bay’s opener against Minnesota on Sept. 13. His past offers a good reason for that confidence.
Timber Lake Gave Tucker Kraft the Foundation He Carries Into His Comeback
Oct 19, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Kraft was a four-year starter at Timber Lake High School, but calling him only a football player would miss a big part of his journey. He played RB, middle LB, and punter, and even saw time at quarterback. As a senior, he rushed for 1,405 yards and 24 TDs and recorded 56 tackles.
Interestingly, he also played basketball. The sport helped Kraft learn how to move his 6-foot-5 frame, control his feet, and compete for position. Those traits later became useful for a TE who often has to catch through contact and keep moving after the first hit.
After the Packers acquired him 78th overall, Gutekunst praised his balance and strength and specifically mentioned his basketball experience.
But Kraft’s roots were not just about sports. The TE’s dad, Doug, died in a plane crash in 2013, when Tucker was 12. Being from Timber Lake also meant taking a different route to the NFL. Rather than leaving South Dakota for a major college program, Kraft stayed close to home and built his career at South Dakota State.
That choice paid off. Kraft became an FCS star and helped the Jackrabbits win the national championship in 2023. An ankle injury in the 2022 season opener at Iowa kept him out for six games. But he returned against North Dakota on Oct. 22 and finished the season with a championship.
That background makes Kraft’s comeback a little more interesting. He was playing the best football of his young NFL career when he tore his right ACL against the Panthers in November 2025. In his first eight games, he had 32 catches for 489 yards and six touchdowns. A week before the injury, he had seven catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns against Pittsburgh.
Kraft talked about the recovery during the Packers minicamp in June. He knew he could start camp on the PUP list. However, he wanted to be in good enough shape to play Week 1 without any pitch count. The Packers took him off the list on July 31. Not long after that, he was back in 11-on-11 work, giving Green Bay another reason to feel good about his return.
Even so his roots do not guarantee how the comeback ends. But that confidence could really help make a stunning comeback.
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