There's uncertainty surrounding the participation of another star from the Kansas City Chiefs in the upcoming season opener against the Detroit Lions on Thursday.
Tight end Travis Kelce experienced a knee hyperextension during practice, as disclosed by head coach Andy Reid on Tuesday.
While reports from NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero suggest that Kelce likely sustained a bone bruise rather than a severe knee injury, his availability for Thursday's game remains uncertain. The outlook for Week 1 should become clearer once the swelling in Kelce's knee subsides, according to Rapoport and Pelissero.
In Tuesday's practice, Kelce was listed as a limited participant. His potential absence for any period would be a significant setback for the defending Super Bowl champions.
Kelce had an outstanding 2022 season, ranking third in the NFL with 110 receptions, eighth with 1,338 receiving yards, and second with 12 touchdowns. Since Patrick Mahomes assumed the quarterback role in 2018, Kelce has accumulated 493 catches and 6,298 receiving yards, the most by any QB-pass catcher duo during that time. With eight consecutive Pro Bowl appearances, Kelce has been the Chiefs' leading receiver in six of the last seven seasons.
If Kelce is unable to play, Noah Gray and Blake Bell are expected to step in as the tight ends.
The Chiefs faced uncertainty at the receiver position during the offseason, with young players like Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore taking on more significant roles. The assurance was that Kelce would continue to be Mahomes' reliable target and a key player in their offense.
Now, just two days away from the 2023 Kickoff Game, this assurance is in doubt. Additionally, with the Chris Jones situation still unresolved, there's a possibility that the Chiefs could be without two of their most prominent stars on Thursday.