Kansas City Chiefs' star tight end, Travis Kelce, will not be available to play in the NFL season opener against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night due to a hyperextended knee.
Kelce's status was initially uncertain, as he was listed as questionable on the team's injury report earlier in the week. The Chiefs had some time to evaluate his condition, but ultimately, they made the decision to declare him inactive for the game.
This injury is relatively unusual for Kelce, who has been remarkably durable throughout his career. He has only missed three games since his rookie season in 2013, with those absences not being injury-related. He sat out two games when the Chiefs rested many of their starters, and he missed one game in 2021 due to COVID-19.
In Kelce's absence, the Chiefs have other tight end options available on their active roster. Noah Gray, who caught 28 passes with a touchdown last season, is one of these options. Additionally, Blake Bell, who had limited playtime in the previous season due to a hip flexor injury but has accumulated 60 catches with one touchdown over his eight NFL seasons with five different teams, is also available.
To bolster their options, the Chiefs activated Matt Bushman from their practice squad, making him a potential player in the game against the Lions.
Kelce, known for his remarkable consistency, has achieved over 1,000 receiving yards in seven consecutive seasons. In the previous season, he had an exceptional performance, catching a career-high 110 passes for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns.