The days before the AFC title game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs featured both top tight ends unexpectedly popping up on injury reports.
After Hayden Hurst did it for the Bengals on the second-to-last injury report, it was superstar Travis Kelce doing it on the final injury report for the Chiefs.
Per that report, Kelce was a full participant in practice, yet wound up listed as questionable (technically 50-50) for the game with a back injury.
Anything less than an explanation from the team is speculation, but Kelce wasn’t on the report all week. He’s the Chiefs’ top passing weapon and surely the focal point of the Cincinnati defensive gameplan. One week ago in the divisional round against the Jaguars, Kelce caught 14 passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns while Patrick Mahomes battled his ankle injury.
So to say this is an interesting and potentially big development for the game is an understatement. Just like their prep for Mahomes, it probably doesn’t change anything for the Bengals. But depending on severity, the late development could have a big impact on the game.
