Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft took a significant step in his recovery on Friday, returning to the practice field for the first time since suffering a torn ACL on November 2. Kraft was able to ride a bike to the field and then participate in practice, marking a meaningful milestone in what has been a lengthy rehab process.
The update came by way of Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who indicated that Kraft's progress has been encouraging enough that the young tight end could potentially participate in joint practices with the Arizona Cardinals. That would represent another substantial step forward for a player who has been working his way back from one of the most serious injuries in football.
Kraft tore his ACL earlier this season, cutting short what had been a promising campaign for the Packers' offense. His absence was felt throughout the remainder of the year, and Green Bay has been monitoring his recovery carefully as the team heads into a new season.
The ability to get on a bike and then onto the practice field suggests Kraft's knee has responded well to rehabilitation. Joint practices are typically high-intensity affairs, so even limited participation against the Cardinals would signal that he is on track for a return to game action at some point during the upcoming season.
