Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee in practice on Tuesday, leaving his status for Thursday’s season opener against the Detroit Lions still uncertain.
The injury occurred during the team’s final full workout of the week. Kelce was running a route when he planted his foot and his knee buckled. He immediately fell to the ground in pain and was unable to put any weight on his leg.
Kelce was helped off the field by trainers and taken to the locker room for further evaluation. He was later seen wearing a knee brace.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said the injury is a hyperextension, which is a stretching or tearing of the ligaments in the knee. He said Kelce will undergo further tests on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury.
Reid did not rule out the possibility that Kelce could miss the game against the Lions. However, he said he is hopeful that Kelce will be able to play.
“We’ll just see how he does going forward,” Reid said. “We’ll know more after he has the tests.”
The Chiefs are facing a major challenge with Kelce’s injury. He is one of the best tight ends in the NFL and is a major part of their offense. His absence would be a huge blow to the Chiefs’ chances of winning on Thursday.
The Chiefs have other tight ends on their roster, including Jody Fortson and Noah Gray. However, Kelce is clearly the team’s best option at the position.
The Chiefs will likely wait until Wednesday to make a final decision on Kelce’s status for Thursday’s game. However, the injury is a major concern for the team as they prepare for their season opener.
The Chiefs are hoping that Kelce will be able to play on Thursday. However, if he is unable to go, the Chiefs will need to find a way to replace his production. Fortson and Gray are capable players, but they are not Kelce.
The Chiefs will also need to adjust their game plan if Kelce is not available. They may need to rely more on their running game or on their wide receivers.
The Chiefs are facing a tough challenge with Kelce’s injury. However, they are a resilient team and they will not give up without a fight. They will need to be at their best on Thursday if they want to win their season opener.
Latest Update
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Kelce’s injury is not expected to be a long-term issue. However, it is still too early to say for sure whether he will be able to play on Thursday. The Chiefs will likely wait until Wednesday to make a final decision.