Packers tight end Luke Musgrave out of the hospital, unlikely to play against Lions
GREEN BAY — Luke Musgrave not only finished Sunday’s game, but the Green Bay Packers rookie tight end didn’t even mention during the team’s 23-20 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers that he might’ve injured something in his abdominal area.
Musgrave finally told head athletic trainer Bryan “Flea” Engel that something might be amiss after the game, and it’s a good thing he did: Musgrave had sustained what head coach Matt LaFleur called a “pretty significant” internal injury that landed Musgrave in a local hospital.
“He didn’t say anything,” LaFleur said Tuesday. “Certainly, it was a scary situation.”
LaFleur wouldn’t divulge the exact nature of Musgrave’s injury — he did say it was not a ruptured appendix — but acknowledged that Musgrave won’t play in Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day matchup with the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
“This kid is as tough as they come,” LaFleur said, pointing to how Musgrave had suffered a serious ankle sprain at Denver on Oct. 22 and played a week later after the head coach had all but ruled him out. “Obviously I think he’s going to be a very dynamic player in time in this league. He continues to get better every time he goes out there. So, obviously, it’s a significant blow for us offensively.”
LaFleur said Musgrave is out of the hospital and that the team was still “working through” whether would land on injured reserve, which would mean he’d miss at least four games.
Without Musgrave and with veteran tight end/fullback Josiah Deguara on the injury report with a hip injury, the Packers could be down to just two healthy tight ends in rookies Tucker Kraft and Ben Sims and may have to make a roster move.
“We’re still kind of seeing what the situation is for Josiah, but we have a plan for that,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said.
Kraft has seen his playing time spike in recent weeks, playing 93 snaps over the past three games and caught two passes for 32 yards against the Chargers.
“I was extremely happy with Tucker. You’ve seen the growth in him, making a huge play on a (27-yard catch-and-run) and just showing his athleticism and his speed.”
Jones won’t go to IR
Musgrave and Deguara were among 17 players listed on the Packers’ injury report, including starting running back Aaron Jones , who won’t play Thursday because of the knee injury he suffered against the Chargers.
But, LaFleur said, Jones’ injury — ESPN reported it to be an MCL sprain — is not only not season-ending, but probably won’t require him to go on IR.
“Very relieved that it’s not anything long term,” LaFleur said. “So, we’ll just kind of work through that.”
Meanwhile, LaFleur wouldn’t rule out veteran safety Darnell Savage, who has been designated to return from IR after missing four games with a calf injury, playing against the Lions.
“I know he’s itching to get back out there,” LaFleur said. “This has been killing him, but we’ll see where he’s at.”
Of the 17 players on the injury report, six would not have practiced had the Packers not merely done a walk-through Tuesday: Musgrave, Deguara, Jones, inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (neck), running back Emanuel Wilson (shoulder) and wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (concussion/knee).
Rookie wide receiver Jayden Reed was also added to the injury report as a limited participant with a chest injury he suffered against the Chargers.
“It was something he didn’t feel was a real problem (on Sunday), then he came in today and felt like it was a problem,” LaFleur said.
LaFleur: Cutting Leavitt had ‘zero’ to do with penalties
LaFleur said the decision to release veteran safety and special-teams ace Dallin Leavitt did not have anything to do with a sideline incident in which Leavitt drew LaFleur’s ire after committing two penalties on the opening kickoff — one for holding, and another for arguing with an official about the call.
“Zero. Nothing,” LaFleur said of the move, which was made to create a spot for running back Patrick Taylor. “It’s one of those tough decisions that sometimes you’re faced with. I think just the injury situation certainly has not helped us.”
Asked what Leavitt’s departure means for his special-teams units, coordinator Rich Bisaccia , who was influential in the team signing Leavitt, replied, “I’m missing him already. He brought a certain swag with him when he came here, brought a certain play-style with him, and I’d like to think that it was contagious. These things happen, and we have to be able to move forward just like he does. Hopefully the attitude that he brought and the swag that he played with and the temperament and the play style will continue to carry through here.”
Photos: View the Packers' win over the Chargers at Lambeau FieldPackers vs. Lions
When, where: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Detroit.
TV: FOX.
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