KC Chiefs might get Jody Fortson back for OTAs

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming into the summer workout season with a deep young roster with several exciting position battles buoyed by so much overall talent. However, there are a few players dealing with injuries that have coaches and fans concerned about how they’ll look upon a return to action. One player who might be back sooner than later—a bit of good news—is tight end Jody Fortson.

On Monday, Andy Reid spoke to reporters and gave an update on Fortson saying that the team is hoping he might be able to make it back for OTAs. Following a devastating injury that ended his season after only a month last year, it would really help him get back into game shape (and clear the requisite mental hurdles) if he were able to return that quickly.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach says the team might see tight end Jody Fortson back in time for OTAs.

Fortson played in only four games last season for the Chiefs after suffering an Achilles injury on a non-contact play, a bitter turn following a shocking summer in which Fortson was the buzz of Chiefs training camp. Fortson was already a good story as a player who has stuck around the roster and practice squad despite being a former rookie free agent from Valdosta State, but his play forced the Chiefs to retain him on the active roster, lest they lose him to another team’s waiver claim.

As the season progressed, the Chiefs used Fortson a couple of times in the end zone to great success and hopes were high as he continued to get more playing time. Then came the injury that sidelined him.

Moving forward, Fortson faces considerable competition on the roster for a spot behind Travis Kelce, but experience says he knows how to handle it. The Chiefs have last season’s fifth-round pick Noah Gray back for his second year. Veteran Blake Bell was also re-signed which means the faces are all familiar for the primary competition at TE2 and TE3. Beyond that, however, the Chiefs do have some intriguing prospects like Mark Vital and Jordan Franks among others.

If Fortson is back for OTAs, then he won’t have to lose precious time at training camp just getting back into the flow of practice. Instead, he can return to forcing the Chiefs to make tough decisions at a position in which he was previously insistent on his inclusion.