The NFC North entered the 2025 campaign with the reputation of one of the most competitive divisions in all of football. And after nine weeks, that remains true. The Detroit Lions came out of their bye week and lost 27-24 to the Minnesota Vikings, and their third-down offense continues to be a problem.
While the Lions have their own problems they must address, they aren't the only contender for the division crown facing issues at the moment. Monday morning, it was confirmed that Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft tore his ACL, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
It's never good to see anyone go down with a season-ending injury. Detroit fans certainly wish Kraft all the best in his recovery, but there is no denying that his absence only benefits the Lions for the remainder of the 2025 season.
Packers Losing Tucker Kraft Helps the Lions Chances in 2025
Kraft suffered this injury in Green Bay's loss to the Carolina Panthers, and the injury creates a massive hole in the Packers' offense. What Kraft did as a blocker and pass catcher in that offense will be hard to replicate. He was in the midst of a breakout campaign, as he was leading the team in receiving yards (489) and receiving touchdowns (6).
The South Dakota State University product was emerging as one of the best players at the position in the game today and played a big role in the Packers' offense. When Kraft went down, Green Bay struggled to get the passing attack going, as they scored just 13 points.
This injury is the second playmaker that is down for the Packers, as Jayden Reed is on IR with a shoulder and foot injury.
And for a team that needs all the playmakers it can get, this is a gut punch. The NFC North is jampacked, as the Packers are in first place with a 5-2-1 record. Detroit and Chicago both own 5-3 records, while the Vikings are 4-4.
Moving forward, every matchup will be crucial, as no one can afford to rack up losses. Losing an emerging star at a major position could open the door further for the rest of the division to pass Green Bay as the year goes on.
The Lions already lost to the Packers once in Week 1, and while Kraft didn't light up Detroit in that one, he still scored a touchdown. Without Kraft, Green Bay will now be forced to lean on the likes of Luke Musgrave and John FitzPatrick, who have combined for 112 receiving yards and one touchdown this season.
How this all pans out will be interesting to see, but there's no doubt that the Packers losing Kraft is a blow that'll benefit Detroit.