Travis Kelce injury: Fantasy impact for Chiefs offense with star TE uncertain for Week 1 vs. Lions

The Chiefs might be with out certainly one of their most sensible avid gamers for Thursday’s 2023 NFL season opener, with tight finish Travis Kelce hyperextending his knee at observe Tuesday. Kelce’s standing for Week 1 towards the Lions is uncertain, in step with head trainer Andy Reid, which raises the all-important query: who’s Kelce’s backup at tight finish?

That can be Noah Gray, a third-year veteran out of Duke. Originally a fifth-round draft pick out in 2021, Gray has gave the impression in all however one sport for the Chiefs in two NFL seasons, logging 8 begins in 2022 whilst enjoying along Kelce.

In the Chiefs’ offense, it is a lot likelier that huge receivers will pick out up the slack within the passing sport if Kelce sits out. Kansas City has a in particular deep room there, with younger objectives like Skyy Moore, Justin Watson and Justyn Ross anticipated to peer expanded roles in the back of veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling and 2022 industry acquisition Kadarius Toney. Third-down working again Jerick McKinnon is every other favourite outlet for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

But Gray is not utterly green, both. He hauled in 28 of 34 objectives (82%) for 299 yards and a landing in 2022.

Behind Gray, the Chiefs even have ninth-year veteran Blake Bell on the TE place. A fourth-round pick out of the 49ers again in 2015, he is on his 2d stint with Kansas City, regardless that his function within the passing sport has been extra restricted. In 3 other seasons with the Chiefs, the ex-Cowboys backup has totaled 19 catches for 174 yards and one ranking.

Beyond the 2 TEs at the energetic roster, the Chiefs even have Matt Bushman and Gerrit Prince at the observe squad. They might be promoted to the game-day roster within the match Kelce is dominated out for Thursday’s sport.