Is Travis Kelce playing tonight? (Latest injury update for Lions vs. Chiefs in NFL Week 1)

Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce reportedly will not play in Week 1 of the 2023 season against the Detroit Lions due to a bone bruise in his knee.

Kelce suffered a hyperextended knee in practice on Tuesday, and he was listed as a “DNP” in Wednesday’s session. 

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Chiefs put Kelce through a workout this morning to test his knee, but it appears the team did not want to risk sending him out in Week 1.

Travis Kelce injury status for Week 1 game against Detroit Lions

The Chiefs officially listed Kelce as questionable on their injury report, but he has been downgraded to out, per multiple reports.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport provided an optimistic update on Kelce's status on Thursday morning, saying that his understanding is that Kelce "is not in pain right now."

That's a good sign for the Chiefs going forward, especially since they have 10 days before their Week 2 game.

Earlier on Thursday, ESPN’s Ed Werder expressed some skepticism on the outlook for the star tight end even though he is pushing to play in the game. It turns out Werder's intel was right about Kelce's status.

Last season, Kelce had 110 catches for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s had at least 1,000 receiving yards in seven straight seasons for Kansas City. 

To brace for Kelce missing this game, the Chiefs elevated tight end Matt Bushman to their active roster this afternoon.

Travis Kelce injury moves Chiefs-Lions odds

Since the injury to Kelce was announced, the spread in the Chiefs’ Week 1 matchup with Detroit has moved from Kansas City -6.5 to -4.5 – a two-point swing. The total – and the Chiefs’ team total – has also gone down with Kelce out on Thursday night. 

This movement may make it easier for bettors to consider wagering on the Chiefs, especially since the public is all over the Lions to cover the spread in this game. 

Here are the current odds for the Chiefs-Lions matchup: 

Best Chiefs prop bet target if Travis Kelce misses Week 1

With Kelce expected to miss this game, Jerick McKinnon is a great player to look at in the prop market. 

He should be one of the primary beneficiaries in the Kansas City offense, especially since Patrick Mahomes trusts him as a safety blanket option out of the backfield. 

Last season, McKinnon had 10 different games with 26 or more receiving yards, and he saw 71 targets during the regular season. His prop for receiving yards on Thursday night is set at 26.5 yards. 

Travis Kelce injury history

Kelce has been relatively healthy in his NFL career, missing just four total games since the start of the 2014 season. He did play just one game in 2013 after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee which revealed that he had a microfracture. 

When is Travis Kelce coming back?

Kelce will have 10 days off before Kansas City’s Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Sept. 17. 

Chiefs next 5 opponents

If Kelce is able to return in the next five games, here are Kansas City’s upcoming opponents:

• Jacksonville Jaguars, Sept. 17, 1 p.m. EST
• Chicago Bears, Sept. 24, 4:25 p.m. EST
• New York Jets, Oct. 1, 8:20 p.m. EST
• Minnesota Vikings, Oct. 8, 4:25 p.m. EST
• Denver Broncos, Oct. 12, 8:15 p.m. EST

Chiefs injury report

• Travis Kelce – knee, OUT

Lions injury report

• Emmanuel Moseley – knee, out

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.