Travis Kelce Injury Update
The Kansas City Chiefs’ All-Pro tight end may be in doubt for Thursday’s season-opener against the Detroit Lions. Head coach Andy Reid confirmed on Tuesday that Kelce hyperextended his knee during the team’s final practice of the week.
Testing has revealed inflammation, but no damage to the knee. The injury is considered day-to-day.
What Happened?
The Chiefs’ Travis Kelce suffered a knee injury during practice last week and is questionable for Thursday night’s game against the Lions. The defending Super Bowl champions have been hit with injuries all season, and the loss of the All-Pro tight end would be a huge blow for this offense.
Kelce was injured when he caught a short pass from Patrick Mahomes and lost his footing, falling to the ground. He grabbed his leg and seemed to be in some pain, but he didn’t go to the sideline for further examination. After a few minutes of watching from the sidelines, he re-entered the game with his ankle heavily taped up. He was able to play and finish the game, though it wasn’t exactly his best performance of the season.
NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Kelce’s initial diagnosis was a hyperextended knee, which could keep him out of the team’s next few games. However, Rapoport also mentioned that the initial injury was a bone bruise and might not be as severe as it initially looked.
Kelce had some struggles with his throws during the first half and wasn’t a factor on either of Kansas City’s touchdown drives. On the other hand, he did make a key catch on the first drive of the second quarter that set up the second-half scoring drive.
In addition to his on-field struggles, Kelce has been in the spotlight off the field recently due to his rumored relationship with pop star Taylor Swift. The pair has been together since February and have been spotted out and about together. Despite their busy schedules, Kelce and Swift have maintained a healthy relationship.
Outside of his football duties, Kelce has lined up another starring role. The Chiefs tight end has been cast in the upcoming season of Ryan Murphy’s FX horror, “American Horror Story: Grotesquerie.” He will act alongside Niecy Nash-Betts, Courtney B. Vance, and Lesley Manville for the upcoming installment. It’s unclear when the show will premiere, but we’ll update you as soon as more information becomes available.
Diagnosis
Kelce’s knee injury was a scary one to watch. He was forced to miss the Chiefs’ season-opening game against the Detroit Lions after suffering a hyperextended knee in practice. However, the team was able to treat him and the tight end returned to the field for Week 2.
It’s not the first time that Kelce has been injured throughout his career. The future Hall of Famer has been hampered by knee issues over the years and even had microfracture surgery to help with his ailment during his rookie season. Since that time, he’s played every game for the Chiefs except for a few days in 2021 when he was sick with COVID-19.
This year’s injury to Kelce’s knee is different in that he had no symptoms leading up to the injury. He went into the game against the Vikings and was able to play for most of the contest, despite the injury. The knee appeared to have some swelling in it, though, and that could be why he couldn’t fully engage.
As soon as the game was over, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the matter and said that Kelce was suffering from a “low ankle sprain.” The injury was not as severe as many fans may have initially thought, especially since the tight end was able to return to play a quarter later.
Sources say that the initial diagnosis is a high ankle sprain. That could explain why the trainers allowed Kelce to reenter the game. High ankle sprains can take weeks to heal, so it’s a good thing that it was not as serious as some would have expected.
With the short turnaround between games, Kelce’s status for Thursday night’s game against the Denver Broncos is up in the air. Considering the Chiefs’ 15-game winning streak against their AFC West rival, Kelce’s absence would be a huge blow for the offense. Still, the tight end appears to be making progress and will most likely play a big part in the game. As of Sunday afternoon, he was listed as questionable on the Chiefs’ official injury report.
Treatment
The Kansas City Chiefs star tight end has made a name for himself in the National Football League as one of the most dynamic players at his position. The first-team All-Pro has accumulated a mind-boggling 814 catches for 10,344 yards and 69 touchdowns over the course of his career. That type of production is unheard-of for most tight ends, and it has allowed Kelce to garner a huge following from both fans of the Chiefs and those just interested in watching a highly accomplished player compete at his sport.
However, the star’s 2023 season started off on a sour note when he was sidelined with a knee injury that appears to have serious implications. Head coach Andy Reid told reporters that Kelce hyperextended his knee during practice and is in doubt for Thursday’s opener against the Detroit Lions.
Upon hearing this news, many fans began to worry about how severe the injury could be and how it would affect the team’s season. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the details of Kelce’s injury, how it is being treated, and what the long-term prognosis is for the team’s top pass-catcher.
The good news is that tests performed on Kelce’s knee indicate that he did not suffer any ligament damage, according to a person familiar with the results. The source added that there is some swelling present, but the swelling should go down quickly as the knee begins to heal.
This is a significant development since Kelce has not missed a game since undergoing a microfracture procedure to repair cartilage damage in his knee in 2013. He was forced to skip the final regular-season game of 2013 after suffering an injury that would have ended most careers, but he returned for Week 2 the following year.
Even with Kelce’s injury, the Chiefs are still a formidable group at the tight end position. Backups Blake Bell and Matt Bushman have combined for 95 catches and 976 yards over the last three seasons, and they can help fill in for Kelce if necessary. Even so, it will be a huge blow to the offense if Kelce cannot play on Thursday and for the majority of the season.
Travis Kelce Surgeries During His 10 Seasons in the NFL
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has had a stellar career but it isn’t without its injuries. During his 10 seasons in the NFL, Kelce has undergone ten surgeries.
He recently suffered a knee injury during practice that caused him to miss the team’s season-opening game against the Detroit Lions. MRIs revealed he had a bone bruise and he was able to return the following week.
Ankle Surgery
The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the best tight ends in the NFL in Travis Kelce, who has caught 103 passes for 1,336 yards and 10 touchdowns over the past three seasons. Despite those numbers, Kelce has missed many practices this offseason as he recovers from ankle surgery. He is back at training camp this week, and he has already passed one big test.
The two-time Pro Bowler was spotted without a boot on Monday morning, which is the start of organized team activities. He also took his boot off after practice, according to Nate Taylor of the Athletic.
This is a major step forward for Kelce, who was injured in the fourth preseason game against Houston and sat out of the first regular season game because of the injury. The injury was described as a knee hyperextension, and the media later referred to it as a bone bruise.
This isn’t the first time the 29-year-old has dealt with a serious injury. During the 2023 season, he was forced to miss seven games due to a hip injury. The tight end was a huge part of the offense last year, with Patrick Mahomes throwing to him on 103 of 142 targets. Thankfully, Kelce’s injury appears to be only minor and won’t affect his production. This is a good sign for the Chiefs, who could use more players like him on their offense this year.
Shoulder Surgery
While Kelce hasn’t gotten to the level of some of his fellow tight ends, he does have a good career to look back on. He’s a two-time Super Bowl champion and he’s pacing for another 1,000-yard season this year. He’s under contract through the 2025 campaign, too.
The 34-year-old is still putting up impressive numbers but his injury history has been somewhat of a detriment. A hyperextended knee prompted him to miss the 2023 opener and he’s also been plagued with rib injuries, shoulder issues and concussions.
He reportedly had shoulder surgery during the offseason to clean things up, but he’s expected to be ready for camp, according to head coach Andy Reid. That’s good news considering Kelce tallied 1,125 receiving yards last season and leads the Chiefs in receptions with 87 this preseason.
He got off to a rocky start on Thursday, though. During his team’s first offensive drive, Kelce was involved in three consecutive plays where he tripped or stepped on one of his own guards. The final play of the drive saw him stepping on Halapoulivaati Vaitai’s left foot, leaving Kelce to leave the field with some sort of foot injury. He was able to return later in the game, though.
Knee Surgery
The knee injury Kelce suffered in the game against the Patriots will definitely take a toll on his ability to perform on the field. This is especially true for a player like Kelce who requires the kind of agility and movement to showcase his immense talents.
Fortunately for Chiefs fans, the tight end’s injury does not appear to be career-ending. However, the outcome of his recovery will be dependent on how well he responds to initial treatments and the length of time that it takes for the knee hyperextension to resolve itself.
In his 10-year-long NFL career, the All-Pro tight end has been subjected to numerous injuries, and nearly a dozen surgeries over the course of that time. However, he has never missed a single game due to injury until this season, when a knee injury prevented him from playing in the team’s season-opener against the Detroit Lions.
The injury is a setback for the two-time Super Bowl winner, but he will remain focused on making a strong comeback from the injury. As one of the league’s most dynamic players, Kelce is a major force for the Kansas City Chiefs offense, and his absence would have a significant impact on the team. Fans are hopeful that he will be able to return to the field sooner rather than later.
Hip Surgery
As a top tight end in the NFL, Kelce has had his fair share of injuries. He’s played through rib and ankle sprains, had surgery on his shoulder and is now dealing with soreness in his knee, which has him questioning whether he can continue playing. His backups, Blake Bell and Matt Bushman, have combined for just a handful of catches this season.
But Kelce, 34, is used to battling pain and injury. He’s missed just four games out of 155 in his career and has played in 18 additional playoff contests — which is almost another entire season in itself — over the past decade-plus.
His durability has landed him on multiple All-Pro teams and allowed him to become a household name thanks to his relationship with pop star Taylor Swift, which exploded into the mainstream during 2023. He’s a two-time Super Bowl winner and is under contract with the Chiefs through 2024.
But in a bombshell interview with The Wall Street Journal, Kelce revealed that his body is wearing down and he’s pondering retirement more than anyone would think. “That’s the only thing I’ve never really been open about, the physical anguish of this game,” Kelce said. “It has taken a toll on me more than I ever imagined.” For now, though, Kelce is focused on leading the Chiefs back to the playoffs.
Back To The Field
There is no doubt that Kelce is the Chiefs’ most important offensive weapon. He’s a major target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes and has caught 110 passes for 1,338 yards with 12 touchdowns this season. His absence would be a big blow to Kansas City’s offense.
Fortunately, Kelce is not believed to have suffered a serious injury. High ankle sprains typically take weeks to recover from, so the fact that trainers allowed him back on the field Sunday suggests that his injury wasn’t as severe as initially feared. The fact that the Chiefs’ other tight ends (Noah Gray and Blake Bell) are catching plenty of passes also helps.
The 33-year-old Kelce has never missed a game due to injury since his rookie year in 2013. He didn’t miss any games this season until Tuesday, when he hyperextended his knee and suffered a bone bruise.
It’s not clear whether the Chiefs will keep Kelce active this week, but he’s expected to be available for the team’s next matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chiefs plan to let the swelling in his knee settle and then reevaluate his status.
Reid told reporters on Monday that Kelce “has made progress” and he hopes the tight end can play against the Jaguars. The Chiefs’ first official injury report will come out Wednesday, and that will provide more clarity on Kelce’s status for the game.
In the meantime, second-year wide receiver Skyy Moore has been stepping up as a starter for the Chiefs’ other tight ends. He’s caught two of Mahomes’ last four touchdown passes and has shown that he can be just as effective as Kelce when needed.
In the event that Kelce is unable to play, the team has a deep roster of wide receivers (Kalif Raymond, D.J. Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling) who are capable of making an impact. In addition, the Chiefs have backup tight ends on the practice squad (Noah Gray and Blake Bell). The team doesn’t have many options at running back, though, with second-year player Jamaal Charles recovering from a groin injury.
