Two expected changes to the lineup occurred on Friday afternoon. The Green Bay Packers placed injured Luke Musgrave on injured reserve, opening up a roster spot for him to acquire tight end John FitzPatrick from the Atlanta Falcons practice squad.
Musgrave is dealing with a sedate ankle injury and will miss at least the next four games. He practiced Wednesday but was then shut down as the Packers better understood the severity of his injury. Musgrave will only be allowed off the injured reserve after the team’s Week 10 bye.
Needing depth at tight end after losing Musgrave, the Packers signed FitzPatrick, a Falcons draft pick who made his “30th” visit to Green Bay before the 2022 draft. The former Georgia Bulldog weighs in at 6-7 and 262 pounds, which gives him potential as a run blocker on the line.
Coach Matt LaFleur didn’t think FitzPatrick would be able to support the Packers right away, given the “difficult task” of playing once he arrived delayed in the week. He also said Falcons coach Raheem Morris told him they were “upset about the loss” of FitzPatrick.
“He has the size and skill set you are looking for,” LaFleur said.
The Packers also have Ben Sims in a tight spot. Starter Tucker Kraft, who has 10 catches and three touchdowns in the last two games, is off the injured list and is eligible to play Sunday after suffering a groin injury suffered midweek.
Musgrave, who suffered a kidney injury last season and missed six games, was on injured reserve for his first two seasons in the NFL. He also missed multiple games during his sophomore and senior seasons at Oregon State.
