The reigning Tremendous Bowl champion Kansas Town Chiefs might be with out one in all their maximum notable gamers once they kick off the 2023 common season in opposition to the Detroit Lions on Thursday evening. Following Tuesday’s observe consultation, Chiefs head tutor Andy Reid instructed newshounds that celebrity tight finish Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee, per ESPN. 

Kelce’s availability for Age 1 is in hesitation, however this isn’t believed to be a long-term shock, as showed by way of CBS Sports NFL Lead Insider Jonathan Jones. The Chiefs will first reportedly watch for the swelling to exit indisposed. When the respectable shock file used to be spared on Tuesday afternoon, Kelce used to be indexed as a restricted player. 

Following checks carried out on Tuesday, the Chiefs imagine that Kelce’s ACL is undamaged, in step with ESPN. There may be irritation in his knee and the tight finish will check it once more Wednesday to decide his availability for Thursday’s opener. 

Jason Kelce — Travis’ brother, Eagles All-Professional heart, and podcast co-host with Travis — went at the WIP Morning Display in Philadelphia Wednesday morning and open, nearest speaking with Travis on Tuesday, that his brother would possibly have a anticipation to play games Thursday evening in opposition to the Lions nearest struggling what he known as a bone bruise. 

“Travis, this was out on the field, and I know he’s got some swelling going on, but it sounds like as long as they can get that down, he’s going to have a chance to go [play],” Jason Kelce said Wednesday. “The ligaments and everything are intact structurally from what we know right now. His knee is fine. It’s about getting the swelling down and then seeing how bruised the bone is because… they can be pretty painful if it’s in a spot that’s rubbing all the time… I think he’s going to be good to go. I really do.”

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport known as the shock a bone bruise.

Kelce is the most efficient tight finish within the NFL, and is coming off of a marketing campaign during which he stuck a career-high 110 passes for 1,338 yards and a career-high 12 touchdowns age the Chiefs returned to their park atop the NFL international with a Tremendous Bowl LVII victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. In that matchup, Kelce changed into the primary tight result in NFL historical past to govern the Tremendous Bowl victor in receiving yards two times, recording six receptions for 81 yards and one landing. 

Kelce hasn’t overlooked a sport because of shock since his rookie season in 2013, the place he performed only one skilled snap earlier than a knee shock compelled him to omit the residue of the yr. The 33-year-old has led Kansas Town in receiving in 3 out of the terminating 4 seasons. If he have been to omit opening evening, it might be reasonably the chance for this unproven large receiving corps.

Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Rashee Rice, Richie James, Justyn Ross and Justin Watson are all combating for touches on this offense, and with out Patrick Mahomes’ solidified Disagree. 1 go catcher, it will have to be large obvious. Moreover, Noah Grey and Blake Bell are indexed as Kelce’s backups at tight finish. Grey stuck 28 passes for 299 yards and one landing terminating yr, age Bell performed in simply 3 general video games.

“I was in on that play, so I was running a route,” Moore mentioned when requested about Kelce’s knee shock nearest observe Thursday, via The Athletic. “I was talking to somebody and he was limping, just walking off the field. It was a good sign to see him get up by himself and get off the field.”  

Kelce leads all tight results in receiving yards according to sport since 2019 (79.8). He can turn into the 7th participant in NFL historical past to file 8 instantly seasons with 1,000 receiving yards this yr, however Age 1 could also be in hesitation.

It didn’t pull lengthy for Vegas to answer the inside track, because the series has dropped 1.5 issues to Chiefs -5, in step with Caesars Sportsbook.