Travis Kelce appears on Chiefs injury report with knee issue

The Kansas City Chiefs have a surprise entry onto this week’s injury report in tight end Travis Kelce who is listed as a limited participant with a knee concern.

One day after declaring his team to be completely with all parties reporting for practice, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid now has a new concern—at least one listed on the team’s injury report—in tight end Travis Kelce. The Chiefs All-Pro tight end has a knee injury that will be something to watch as Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans creeps closer.

Kelce was listed as a limited participant, the only player for the Chiefs with such a designation, as they practiced on Wednesday to prepare for the Divisional Round of the postseason. The Chiefs are coming off of a bye week, so Kelce has already had time to rest any lingering injuries along with his teammates so the fact this is an issue is a bit disconcerting.

Kelce just wrapped another regular season in which he started all 16 games, and Kelce has started every game since he missed his rookie campaign due to a major knee injury back in 2013. This year, Kelce once again put up Pro Bowl worthy numbers and set NFL marks for production at his position with his fourth straight year with over 1,000 receiving yards. Specifically Kelce finished with 1,229 yards on 97 catches and 5 touchdowns.

If Kelce finds his situation unimproved as the week goes, the offensive game plan for the Chiefs could change considerably. Kelce is a target that the Texans must account for at all times, and his presence, along with that of Tyreek Hill, is what makes the team so dangerous at any given moment. Other receivers like Sammy Watkins and Mecole Hardman will need to figure more prominently into the offense in a situation where Kelce is out, given that his backup Blake Bell hardly presents anything close to the mismatches provided by Kelce.

Kelce has 33 catches for 425 yards and 2 touchdowns in 6 postseason games.