Packers Minicamp Recap: Tucker Kraft expects to play Week 1

Minicamp is underway, and today marked Day 2 of the three-day snapshot of the team for Green Bay Packers fans. No one completely took over practice on Wednesday, like pass-rusher Lukas Van Ness did on Tuesday, but there was some news broken before, during and after practice.

17 players remain out for the Packers, including three of their tight ends. Because of their limited numbers at the position, both Josh Whyle and Messiah Swinson have been thrown into the lineup with the starting unit. There’s been little information given on the injury status of these players, as Green Bay doesn’t have to officially file an injury report until Week 1 of the regular season.

As we mentioned yesterday, I’m hard-pressed to remember the last time a fifth-round (or later) rookie was getting opportunities to be thrown in the starting lineup like Jager Burton has. Generally, the Packers slow-play playing time, but with left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Tom out, Burton has been getting looks with the 1s. Interestingly, the Packers seem to be keeping Darian Kinnard as a tackle-only player, a role he played in 2025, rather than a combo guard-tackle, like Anthony Belton. For reference, Kinnard has played guard in the past in preseasons with other NFL teams.

Here’s the big one: Tucker Kraft believes that he’s going to play in Week 1. This makes sense, based on his recovery timeline. As we’ve explained in the past, Kraft should be in game-ready shape by around mid-August, even if he opens up training camp on the physically unable to perform list. Going into the regular season, the only injuries (we know of) that should impact participation should be Micah Parsons’ ACL tear and Jordon Riley’s Achilles tendon tear.

With Benjamin St-Juste out, Carrington Valentine has been consistently “starting” opposite Keisean Nixon, though he’s been rotated with second-round rookie Brandon Cisse. It will be interesting to see if anything changes whenever St-Juste can return to the field.

For the second straight day, Nazir Stackhouse has been the team’s “starting” nose tackle. Keep in mind, Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave (who could play nose) and Warren Brinson (who could play nose) have been out for all of minicamp. Truly, this is closer to the second-string defensive line than the first-string unit.

Barryn Sorrell continues to hold down the edge rusher job opposite Lukas Van Ness, at least as long as Micah Parsons is out. Go ahead and pencil him over Dani Dennis Sutton and Brenton Cox Jr. as the early Parsons replacement.

Speaking of LVN, head coach Matt LaFleur praised him after his performance on Tuesday, when he was the star of the show.

Rookie draft pick Trey Smack didn’t kick today, but he did go 7 of 8 outside on Tuesday after going 5 of 9 in practice last week. Lukas Havrisik, who signed a reserve-future deal with the Packers after ending last season on the team’s practice squad, went a perfect 8 of 8 indoors on Wednesday.

If you’re on kick returner watch, it doesn’t look like Keisean Nixon is really involved this offseason. Last year, Nixon and Josh Jacobs, who both got opportunities to be kick returners in the playoffs, worked with the unit throughout the summer. This time, only Jacobs is hanging around the group.

Receiver Skyy Moore should be in the mix for the starting kick return job when he’s healthy, but today it was Savion Williams, the incumbent returner from 2025, and Bo Melton, a do-it-all special teamer, who were first up.