Less than five weeks after suffering a lacerated kidney, Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave is making a strong comeback and has resumed football activities. Although he will not be playing in Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, the rookie is optimistic about potentially returning to the field later this season.

The Packers designated Musgrave to return off injured reserve this week, and while he didn't officially participate in any practices, he has been running routes and engaging in individual drills under the supervision of the medical staff.

Reflecting on the incident, Musgrave mentioned that he sensed something was wrong after he landed on the football following a third-quarter catch against the Chargers in Week 11. However, he managed to finish the game. It was only when he noticed blood in his urine upon returning home that he realized the severity of the situation.

"I went to the bathroom [and] knew," Musgrave recalled on Friday. "I put the pieces together pretty quickly, kind of knew that was a problem, called [head athletic trainer Bryan] 'Flea' [Engel], asked him if I had to go to the ER. He said yes, so I went and then it turned out, getting worse overnight, so I had to stay an extra night."

Medical diagnosis revealed that Musgrave suffered a Grade 4 laceration, with a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most severe. The young tight end expressed his discomfort, acknowledging that internal organ injuries differ from typical football injuries.

Despite the setback, Musgrave had been showing promising performance prior to the injury, with 33 catches for 341 yards and a touchdown in 10 games. With only two games left in the regular season for the Packers (6-8), unless they secure a playoff berth, Musgrave is uncertain of whether he will have ample time to make a full return.

"With these things, it's kind of weird, so it just depends on how I'm doing," Musgrave explained. "My goal is to play. That's my goal, so we're going to see. I think you can have pain [and play]. The issue is kidneys can regulate blood pressure, you don't want to reinjure it, you don't want to have more bleeds, but so far it's looking all right."

As Musgrave continues his recovery and rehabilitation, fans and teammates eagerly await his return to the field, hopeful that he will make a significant impact on the Packers' performance once he is ready to play again.