The Green Bay Packers fell 16-13 to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in a stunning Week 9 upset at Lambeau Field, sealed by a 49-yard field goal as time expired. The defeat was compounded by a serious knee injury to tight end Tucker Kraft, with the team fearing a torn ACL. Coach Matt LaFleur described the injury as not looking good, pending further tests.
Sunday's matchup at Lambeau Field turned into a nightmare for the Green Bay Packers, who entered as favorites but dropped a 16-13 decision to the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers, led by a strong defensive effort, held the Packers to 13 points and capitalized on a last-second 49-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald to secure the win.
The game took a darker turn in the third quarter when tight end Tucker Kraft suffered a right knee injury during a running play. Kraft was hit while blocking, and left guard Sean Rhyan's foot came down on his leg below the knee. He was carted off the field and ruled out for the remainder of the contest. According to NFL Media and a source close to the team, the Packers fear Kraft tore his ACL, which would sideline the 2023 third-round pick for the rest of the season. Before the injury, Kraft caught two of three targets for 20 yards. He leads the Packers with six touchdown receptions this year and had a standout performance last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, hauling in seven passes for 143 yards and two scores in a 35-25 victory.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur addressed the injury postgame, telling reporters, "It did not look good." He added that Kraft, who turns 25 on Monday, would undergo further testing to confirm the severity. The loss also saw rookie wideout Matthew Golden exit in the third quarter with a shoulder injury, finishing the game without him.
Now 5-3-1, the Packers hold a slim lead in the NFC North but have stumbled in recent outings against lesser opponents, including a loss to the Cleveland Browns earlier this season. The Panthers improved to 3-6 with the upset, showcasing resilience on both sides of the ball.