The Green Bay Packers suffered a stunning 16-13 home loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, compounded by fears that tight end Tucker Kraft sustained a torn ACL during the game. Kraft was carted off in the third quarter with a knee injury, leaving the Packers without one of their top performers. Coach Matt LaFleur described the injury as not looking good, with further tests pending.
In a low-scoring affair at Lambeau Field, the Panthers pulled out a last-second field goal victory, ending a 16-year drought without a win in Green Bay. Rico Dowdle powered Carolina's offense with 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, setting an aggressive tone against the Packers' defense. The Packers managed 369 total yards but scored just 13 points, reaching the red zone four times yet ending half of those drives in turnovers, including a fumble and a turnover on downs.
Quarterback Jordan Love struggled in key moments, throwing an interception into triple coverage in the third quarter during a one-point game and failing to connect on a fourth-down attempt later. The Packers' slow starts continued, as they trailed 7-6 at halftime despite being the superior team on paper.
The injury to Kraft overshadowed the defeat. The 2023 third-round pick, who leads Green Bay with six touchdown receptions this season, caught two of three targets for 20 yards before exiting after a hit on a running play. He had a standout performance the previous week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, hauling in seven passes for 143 yards and two scores in a 35-25 win. LaFleur told reporters postgame that Kraft's knee "did not look good," and he will undergo additional testing to assess the severity.
The Packers, now 5-2-1, also lost rookie wideout Matthew Golden to a shoulder injury in the third quarter, forcing them to finish without him. Carolina's defense stepped up after a poor showing the prior week, limiting Green Bay's output despite the yardage. Christian Rozeboom led with 15 tackles, while Tre'von Moehrig intercepted a deep pass intended for Christian Watson.
This loss highlights ongoing inconsistencies for Green Bay since their hot start, with recent wins over lesser opponents and setbacks against underdogs like the Browns earlier this season.