Travis Kelce Causes Concern for Chiefs and Mahomes Before NFL Season Opener

Travis Kelce, star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, hyperextended his knee and may miss the start of the season.

Travis Kelce, the star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and a favorite target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, has suffered a hyperextended knee injury during a practice session. This injury puts his availability for the beginning of the upcoming season in doubt. The Chiefs' head coach, Andy Reid, confirmed the injury and stated that Kelce will undergo tests to determine the severity of the injury.

Reid expressed optimism, saying, "He hyperextended it. So we'll see how he does going forward. They're looking at it now. We'll just see how it goes." However, he also acknowledged that the team needs to be prepared for Kelce's absence if he is unable to play. In such a scenario, another player will need to step up and fill his role.

Wide receiver Skyy Moore, who witnessed the injury, described how Kelce was limping as he walked off the field. However, Moore found it encouraging to see Kelce get up on his own and leave the field under his own power.

Kelce has been widely regarded as the best tight end in the NFL for several years. He has consistently put up impressive numbers, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for seven consecutive seasons. In fact, his performance at the position has been unprecedented. Since 2013, Kelce has not missed a game due to injury, only being rested for certain matchups throughout his career.

Losing Kelce for an extended period of time would be a significant blow to the Chiefs. The team has already lost two of its starting wide receivers from last year, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman. Additionally, Mahomes will be surrounded by a relatively inexperienced supporting cast this season, with rookies and second-year players expected to start at wide receiver, and new offensive tackles stepping into starting roles.

Despite these challenges, the Chiefs enter the season as strong contenders to return to the Super Bowl, having won the championship last year. However, they have also lost key players on the defensive side of the ball, further complicating their prospects. The Chiefs' roster features two other tight ends, Noah Gray and Blake Bell, who had a combined total of 28 catches and one touchdown last season. In comparison, Kelce recorded 110 receptions and 12 touchdowns.

As of now, the full extent of Kelce's injury remains unknown. The team will await the results of further tests to determine the severity and potential timeline for his recovery.