Five Chiefs To Watch Saturday Night
By Ben Nielsen
Aug 17, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) runs after catching a pass during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
TRAVIS KELCE
One of the most impressive and explosive Chiefs players this preseason has been second-year tight end Travis Kelce. Kelce could almost be considered a rookie given that he did not play a single snap last season due to a season-ending leg injury.
No matter, Kelce has come back bigger, faster and better (we assume), catching long touchdown passes in each of the Chiefs’ first two preseason games. His playmaking ability down the seam should open up a lot of space for Alex Smith to find some of their speedy weapons like Jamaal Charles and De’Anthony Thomas, and could help open up some space on the outside to help out Dwayne Bowe.
But most all of Kelce’s action this preseason has come while playing with the second and third string. We really have yet to see Kelce make an impact with the first team because he hasn’t been given the opportunity yet to do so. Unless Andy Reid plans on benching Kelce for the first three quarters of Saturday’s game against Minnesota, we are going to get our first extended look at Kelce running with the first-team offense.
What kind of impact will Kelce be able to bring facing a first-team opponent as opposed to backups?