GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers are expected to be without tight end Luke Musgrave for at least another month because of the ankle injury he sustained in Week 4 against the Vikings.
Musgrave, the second-year pro who was the team's leading receiver among tight ends last season, is "more than likely" headed to injury reserve, coach Matt LaFleur said on Thursday.
This comes just one day after he was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice. Musgrave was active for last Sunday's win over the Rams but did not get in the game; he was available only in case of emergency.
"Which speaks to his toughness and competitiveness," LaFleur said. "The fact that he even suited up this last game was pretty impressive. I don't think we understood how serious it was, and so, he's going to be down for a minute."
LaFleur said the team hopes to get him back this season. The soonest Musgrave would be eligible to play is on Nov. 17 against the Bears, which is after the Packers' bye.
"I knew that he might've been in some pain," fellow Packers tight end Tucker Kraft said Thursday. "He's on the mend now, that's what's important."
While Kraft had surpassed Musgrave as the team's No. 1 tight end this season, the Packers like to use multiple tight end sets. After catching 34 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns last season despite missing six games because of a lacerated kidney as a rookie, Musgrave had only five catches for 22 yards before he exited the Vikings' game.
Kraft, who is coming off a two-touchdown game against the Rams on Sunday, ranks second on the team with 22 catches for 218 yards and is tied for the team lead three touchdown catches.
The Packers are expected to use Musgrave's roster spot when he goes on injured reserve on tight end John FitzPatrick. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Packers signed him off the Falcons practice squad on Thursday. FitzPatrick, a sixth-round pick in 2022, has appeared in nine career games.
Second-year pro Ben Sims, who has four career catches for 21 yards and a touchdown but hasn't caught a pass yet this season, is expected to see more snaps.