Green Bay, Wisconsin – January 2026 — A turbulent season in Green Bay has left more than just playoff disappointment in its wake. Behind the scenes, quiet fractures are forming — and one player once viewed as a cornerstone of the offense is now preparing for a future that may no longer include the Green Bay Packers.

League sources indicate that Luke Musgrave, once projected as the Packers’ long-term answer at tight end, has privately begun exploring a potential exit after a steep decline in both availability and on-field impact during the 2025 season.

Entering the year, Musgrave was expected to be a featured piece in Matt LaFleur’s tight end–centric scheme — a future centerpiece growing alongside quarterback Jordan Love. Early usage reflected that vision. What followed did not.

Recurring injuries derailed Musgrave’s season almost immediately. An early ankle issue, followed by abdominal complications and lingering setbacks, limited him to just eight total appearances, including the postseason. When active, the production failed to match expectations: 24 receptions, 252 yards, zero touchdowns, averaging under 30 yards per game.

More telling than the box score was the role shift.

Musgrave’s snap share fell dramatically — dipping near 30% in multiple games — as the offense increasingly flowed through Tucker Kraft, who had surged into a near All-Pro level before suffering a Week 9 ACL injury. Even after Kraft went down, Green Bay continued to rotate younger tight ends such as Josh Whyle, John FitzPatrick, and McCallan Castles, leaving Musgrave on the periphery of the game plan.

The result: a former projected starter now viewed internally as depth rather than direction.

Musgrave has not spoken publicly about the situation, but people close to him describe a professional — not emotional — desire for a reset, somewhere he can reestablish a meaningful role. At just 25 years old, his age remains an asset, but diminishing production and durability concerns have altered the calculus.

From the team’s perspective, the Packers are continuing a youth-driven reshaping of the roster after another playoff exit. While Musgrave remains under contract, trade or release scenarios are expected to be discussed during the 2026 offseason if no rebound materializes.

One team source put it plainly:
“He’s not making waves. He just sees what’s happening. When your role disappears, you either accept it — or you look for a place where it doesn’t.”

This is not a public breakup, nor a finalized decision. But inside Green Bay, the evaluation phase has begun.

And for Luke Musgrave, the path once envisioned as a long-term future at Lambeau Field may now be approaching a quiet, pivotal crossroads.