Chiefs’ All-Professional TE Travis Kelce hyperextends knee in observe for opener vs Detroit

NFL

Kelce’s standing for Thursday’s season opener in opposition to the Detroit Lions is at present unsure.

By DAVE SKRETTA, Related Press

September 6, 2023 | 9:18 AM

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee throughout the Chiefs’ last observe earlier than their opener in opposition to Detroit, leaving the standing of the All-Professional tight finish in query when Kansas Metropolis faces the Lions on Thursday evening at Arrowhead Stadium.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid stated the damage occurred throughout their last full exercise Tuesday however offered no different particulars. Gamers within the locker room stated Kelce was damage on a play within the crimson zone however was capable of limp off the sector on his personal.

“We’ll simply see how he does going ahead,” Reid stated.

Exams taken after observe confirmed that there was no ligament injury, an individual conversant in the outcomes instructed The Related Press, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to debate the damage.

The 33-year-old Kelce has not missed a recreation to damage since his rookie season in 2013, when a microfracture process to repair a cartilage downside in his knee ended it after one recreation. He has twice skipped meaningless video games to finish the common season.

“I used to be in on that play (that Kelce was damage),” Chiefs huge receiver Skyy Moore stated Tuesday. “I used to be speaking to anyone and he was limping, simply strolling off the sector. It was a superb signal to see him rise up by himself and get off the sector.”

At some point earlier, Kelce proclaimed his physique felt “nearly as good because it’ll really feel all yr” heading into the brand new season.

“I’ve been very lucky that we’ve got the most effective coaching employees within the league, so getting within the coaching room, doing numerous rehab, and simply ensuring the physique is tuned up,” Kelce stated earlier than Monday’s observe. “There’s loads that goes into it. You simply must be an expert, and also you simply must be very lucky.

“Truly,” he stated, “there’s lot of fortune that goes into the sport and staying wholesome and being on the market each week.”

Kelce is coming off maybe the most effective season of his 10-year profession, catching a career-high 110 passes for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was voted a first-team All-Professional for the fourth time and chosen to the Professional Bowl for an eighth consecutive season whereas serving to Kansas Metropolis win the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in 4 years.

“It’s powerful and we love Kelce and we would like him to be on the market,” stated Chiefs tight finish Noah Grey, who could be in line to start out if Kelce is unavailable. “He’s been an amazing captain, an amazing chief for this workforce, an amazing mentor for me and the remainder of the fellows.

“He’s as powerful as they get,” Grey added. “I hope he’s on the market.”

The Chiefs even have Blake Bell on the 53-man roster with Matt Bushman and Gerrit Prince on the observe squad.

Many of the accidents Kelce has sustained in his profession have been comparatively minor. He has twice been within the concussion protocol however was capable of return for the next recreation. He’s performed via a rib damage and an ankle sprain, had offseason surgical procedure on his shoulder and handled soreness in his knee throughout the 2020 playoffs.

“He’s one of many hardest guys on the market,” Bushman stated, “and he likes to play the sport.”

The drop-off is steep from Kelce to the remainder of the tight finish group. He has 814 catches for 10,344 yards and 69 touchdowns over the course of his profession; the backups mixed have 95 catches for 976 yards and three touchdowns.

The Chiefs are at the least wholesome at huge receiver, which ought to take among the stress off the tight ends.

The massive query mark was speedy Kadarius Toney, who had surgical procedure for a torn meniscus early in coaching camp and missed all three preseason video games. The dynamic-if-injury susceptible playmaker returned to observe final week and made it via the rest of recreation week exercises with none issues.

If Kelce is unavailable, the Chiefs might have all seven of their huge receivers energetic on recreation day.

“We’ve bought to verify we’ve got a plan on tips on how to use them,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy stated.