The Kansas City Chiefs suffered a potentially critical injury in their final practice before hosting the Detroit Lions in Thursday night’s Week 1 opener. All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee, per Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. His availability for the game is in serious question, though no official prognosis of his status is yet determined.
Kelce is a huge piece of the Chiefs offense. He caught 110 passes for 1,338 yards and 12 TDs in 2022, a year where he earned his fourth All-Pro nod in seven seasons. The Chiefs use multiple TE sets frequently, and Kelce is the key chess piece for head coach Andy Reid. Next up at TE are Noah Gray and Blake Bell, who combined for 30 receptions in 2022.
Buy Lions TicketsKelce has been incredibly durable in his career. He hasn’t missed a game due to injury since 2013, when he missed all but one game in his rookie season due to microfracture surgery in his knee.
The Chiefs are already expected to be without their best defensive player, with All-Pro tackle Chris Jones still holding out in a contractual dispute. Jones has yet to report to the team, let alone practice.
Lions fans will have little sympathy for the Chiefs after losing standout left tackle Taylor Decker in practices before Week 1 back in 2021.
