The Green Bay Packers improved to 2-2 thanks to their 17-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. It was a costly victory, though, as star linebacker Edgerrin Cooper went down with what is most likely a torn Achilles. As such, the Packers are preparing to go through the rest of the season without him.
Unfortunately, he is the third starter already this year who has suffered a season-ending injury, joining Zach Bako-Bewele (knee) and Jayden Reed (neck).
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Now, Green Bay has to continue figuring out ways to win without one of their best players. Tight end Tucker Kraft improving his play would go a long way to helping this come to fruition.
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft is hard on himself after victory

Oct 4, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) leaps over Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Tykee Smith (23) during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
On Sunday, Kraft caught six of the seven passes thrown his way. He logged 42 receiving yards and a touchdown. The one pass he did not catch, though, was a wide open would-be touchdown that he simply just dropped because he was not focusing on the ball.
It was his fourth drop of the year already, which is the second-most drops he has had in a single season throughout the course of his career. Clearly, that is not good, and he said as much himself after the game:
“My drop rate right now is terrible… I can’t do anything with the rock if I don’t get it.” Kraft’s drop rate currently stands at 16.9%, which is, to be blunt, truly awful.
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Many fans saw the quote about “I can’t do anything with the rock if I don’t get it” and took to mean that he was complaining about a lack of targets. This is not the case. Rather, he was being critical of himself for not catching enough of the passes thrown his way.
Indeed, Kraft has 24 targets this season through four games, which ranks third on the team. He is not disgruntled about a “lack of targets.” He is getting plenty of them.
The onus is on him to improve, and he hopefully he will because the Packers can ill-afford to see drives end early anymore due to dropped passes.

Oct 4, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) runs with the ball during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
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