The Chicago Bears have quickly become surprise contenders in the NFC North, sitting only half a game out of first place after Sunday's win. The Green Bay Packers are still in first place despite a disheartening loss to the Carolina Panthers, while the Detroit Lions fell to the Minnesota Vikings, leaving the Bears tied for second and very much in the division picture.
And after Sunday's results, the Bears' divisional outlook received another boost, even if it's a bit bittersweet.
NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Packers star tight end Tucker Kraft has suffered a torn ACL and is lost for the season. This is a huge loss considering Kraft already has 489 receiving yards and six touchdowns, cementing himself as one of the best at his position. This is an undeniably huge loss for Green By while also providing an advantage for a young Chicago roster.
Tucker Kraft's Injury Is Unfortunate, but Bears Must Take Advantage
Injuries are a part of the game and will consistently factor into divisional races. Even with no love lost between the two sides, there is never a want for players to deal with injuries of this magnitude. Kraft is likely looking at several months of rehab and a long path back.
There are two factors here as to why Kraft's injury is unfortunate, with the first being the fact that you don't want any built-in excuses for a hated rival. Beating the Packers needs to happen without any easy outs or excuses. While winning the division is still an incredible accomplishment, there is a bit of frustration over it happening in this fashion, and the last thing Chicago fans need is for Green Bay supporters to make excuses when all is said and done.
It's easy to see why Kraft's injury is somewhat unfortunate for the Bears, even if it does provide an undeniable advantage. Chicago will have a chance to make a division push with the schedule ahead offering two incredible winnable games against the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings. Meanwhile, the Packers will be playing the Philadelphia Eagles, who are coming off an extended bye week and will want to make an immediate impact.
Kraft's injury is likely to have a clear impact on the NFC North race down the stretch and offer an unfortunate advantage for the Bears. The news comes on top of the franchise already making an impressive run and starting to show its true offensive ceiling.
The Bears can hold their own, but they'll likely take any help they can get — especially if the division becomes any tighter than it already is. Hopefully, Kraft will make a full recovery while Chicago attempts to take advantage of the situation it was just gifted.