Chiefs vs Lions inactives: Travis Kelce among players out for Week 1

After months of waiting, the 2023 regular season has finally arrived in the National Football League with the first edition of Thursday Night Football just about set to get underway. And despite it being the first game of the year, there's a lot at stake for both the Detroit Lions and the Kansas City Chiefs here in Week 1.

For the Lions, the game is a chance to make a statement about their ability to compete at the next level. Last year, Dan Campbell's roster rattled off an impressive 8 wins in the second half to finish with a winning record for the first time in years at 9-8. Given that they'd won only 3 games the previous season, it's the sort of single-year improvement that has Motown wondering how much farther they can take things.

There are some significant names that could be left in or out for Week 1 between the visiting Lions and Chiefs.

For the Chiefs, it's Banner Night, a celebration of their second Super Bowl title in four years. Yet instead of the lingering feel-good vibes from an offseason filled with parades and hosting the draft, all eyes are on tight end Travis Kelce's knee injury and the absence of defensive tackle Chris Jones due to an ongoing holdout. Kelce, by the way, has already been ruled out.

Can the Chiefs start their title defense with a solid showing against an ascending young team? Are the Lions ready to show they can hang with the NFL's contenders? There are some great storylines coming into Thursday Night Football, and much of it will have to do with who is in and who is out.

Here are the Chiefs official inactives for tonight:

• Travis Kelce, TE
• Nic Jones, CB
• Darius Rush, CB
• BJ Thompson, DL
• Wanya Morris, OT
• Lucas Niang, OT
• Neil Farrell, DL

And here are the inactives for the Lions:

• Romeo Okwara, DE
• Emmanuel Mosely, DB
• Steven Gilmore, DB
• Isaiah Buggs, DL
• Brodric Martin, DL