The wait is finally over! The new NFL season begins in a few hours with the duel between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions. This is the beginning of the “title defense” project for the home team. Shortly before the start, the Super Bowl winner is still worried about superstar Travis Kelce.
The tight end hyperextended his knee on Tuesday and suffered bone marrow edema. Tests on Wednesday showed that everything was intact, at least when it came to the ligaments, but a deployment by Patrick Mahomes’ good friend was hanging by a thread.
As Ian Rapoport of the “NFL Network” reports, Kelce will not decide whether he can play or not until he warms up before the game against the Lions. The 33-year-old has “no pain” without strain, but that doesn’t mean anything, according to the NFL insider.
If the Chiefs decide not to let their best pass receiver play, it would primarily be a decision with an eye on the long season, said Rapoport. “It seems like he has a real chance (of playing), but it’s a matter of risk versus reward,” the journalist explained.
NFL: Kansas City Chiefs prepare for worst case scenario
However, the Chiefs are already prepared just in case. As Rapoport further reports, Kansas City activated tight end Matt Bushman from its own practice squad just a few hours before kickoff.
Bushman played in all three games in the preseason and recorded a total of 54 receiving yards. In the last game against the Cleveland Browns, the tight end even scored a touchdown.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid will certainly have ways to get Bushman involved in the game. But it is also clear that a loss by Kelce would enormously weaken the defending champions’ otherwise strong offense.