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Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have provided an update on the injury to All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce. According to sources, Kelce’s ACL remains intact after tests conducted on Tuesday. However, he is dealing with inflammation in his knee, and further evaluations will be done on Wednesday to determine his availability for the NFL season opener against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night.
In a conversation with his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, they discussed Travis’ condition. Jason mentioned that there is swelling in his knee and that the focus is on reducing the swelling and assessing any potential bruising in the bone.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid previously announced that Kelce hyperextended his knee during Tuesday’s practice. If Kelce is unable to play, Reid expressed confidence in the team’s ability to adapt and stated that the next player in line will step up.
Wide receiver Skyy Moore witnessed the moment of Kelce’s injury, describing how he saw Kelce limping off the field but managed to leave without assistance. Moore acknowledged that the offense will need to make adjustments if Kelce is unable to play but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to fulfill their roles and succeed.
The Chiefs have other tight ends on their roster, including Noah Gray and Blake Bell. Gray had 28 receptions and a touchdown last season, while Bell, despite missing a majority of the year due to a hip flexor injury, has demonstrated his abilities with 60 catches and one touchdown over his NFL career with various teams. Additionally, the Chiefs have two tight ends on their practice squad, with Matt Bushman even receiving snaps with the starting group after Kelce’s injury.
On another note, Reid mentioned that there have been no significant developments in contract negotiations with holdout defensive tackle Chris Jones. However, Reid emphasized that the team’s focus is on preparing for the game against the Lions with the available players.
Kelce, who has consistently surpassed 1,000 receiving yards each season, has a remarkable durability record, missing only three games since 2014, two of which were due to rest and one due to COVID-19. The Chiefs’ injury news has already influenced the point spread for Thursday night’s game, with Kansas City’s odds decreasing from -6.5 to -5 at Caesars Sportsbook.
Contributions to this report made by ESPN’s David Purdum.
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