Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee during a recent practice, leaving his availability for the team’s upcoming season opener uncertain, according to head coach Andy Reid.



ESPN reported that while Kelce’s ACL is believed to be intact, he is dealing with knee inflammation. Kelce was officially listed as a limited participant in practice, raising concerns about his streak of not missing a game due to injury since his rookie year in 2013.



The defending champion Chiefs are set to kick off the NFL season against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night. In the event Kelce cannot play, 24-year-old Noah Gray is expected to step in as the starting tight end. Gray had 28 catches for 299 yards and one touchdown in 17 games last season.



<h2>Travis Kelce’s Potential Absence Puts Chiefs’ Offensive Prowess at Risk</h2>



Kelce’s potential absence could be a significant blow to the Chiefs’ offense as he is quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ favorite target. His unique ability to create separation and make clutch catches has made him an integral part of the team’s success in recent years.



Despite his age, Kelce had a remarkable 2022 season, setting career highs in catches (110) and touchdowns (12), and leading the team with 1,338 receiving yards. An eight-time Pro Bowler, he has accumulated 814 catches, 10,344 receiving yards, and 69 touchdowns in his career.



Additionally, the Chiefs will be closely monitoring the status of Kadarius Toney, who was initially in doubt but is expected to play. With Toney, Sky Moore, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, the Chiefs will rely on their receiving corps to make a significant impact in the game.

Travis Kelce's Knee Injury Puts Chiefs' Season Opener in Doubt

Travis Kelce's Knee Injury Puts Chiefs' Season Opener in Doubt - thesportsdrops NEWS

miniaturas

The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/top-3-most-disappointing-nfl-draft-picks-over-the-last-two-decades-20230426-SPD-3602.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2023 NFL Draft</a> lasted over three days and 259 picks. A lot may be dissected now that it is in the history books.



The bulk of the offseason’s work in acquiring players is concluded, except for any undrafted free agents signed to fill up the team’s last roster spots. Nonetheless, teams may make additional moves as the offseason progresses. 



The conclusion of the draft may hasten the next steps of veterans still available in free agency or on the trade market, as clubs scramble to find last-minute reinforcements in positions of need. Keeping this in mind, CBS Sports have reported on three potential trades following the draft.



<h2>Malik Willis to Cardinals</h2>



The Titans, who used a third-round selection on him last year, seem to have moved on, as they used the 33rd pick this year to choose Will Levis, an athletic but unpredictable competitor to Ryan Tannehill. The Cardinals, on the other hand, have a promising young quarterback in Kyler Murray, but he may not be healthy enough to start until 2023. 



In the meanwhile, the team will have to rely on a collection of older backups like Colt McCoy, Jeff Driskel, and David Blough. After seeing Jalen Hurts flourish as a dual threat in Philadelphia, new head coach Jonathan Gannon may be prepared to give Willis a go as a developmental project behind Murray.



<h2>DeAndre Hopkins to Chiefs</h2>



With Gabriel Davis under more scrutiny as the team’s No. 2 receiver behind Stefon Diggs, the Bills may need Hopkins’ services more than ever. The Chiefs prioritized wide receiver this summer, and they drafted Rashee Rice in the second round, but Rice isn’t as technically sound a possession target as Hopkins has been at full speed. Kansas City is capable of using this location to save money by relying on Travis Kelce and <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-the-worst-first-round-draft-picks-in-the-previous-10-years-20230408-SPD-3560.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patrick Mahomes</a> to boost the performance of the rest of the team.



Hopkins has previously hinted that he would welcome a transfer to Arrowhead, and that’s with the team in a continuous Super Bowl window and all. The Cardinals could keep the veteran for when Kyler Murray comes back, but they’d probably prefer to get a good draft selection for the high-priced receiver now.



<h2>Dalvin Cook to Bills</h2>



After heavily promoting their fast but pricey running back, the Vikings could be inclined to break up with him if they use a late-round choice on DeWayne McBride, a possible power complement to the re-signed Alexander Mattison. The Dolphins, Buffalo’s AFC East opponent, have been more strongly connected to Cook, a native of Miami, but the Dolphins recently used a third-round pick on Devon Achane and re-signed Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson. 



But the Bills, who are fighting to keep their division lead, might welcome the chance to improve upon an already potent offensive unit. Former Patriots running back Damien Harris was signed, but he won’t necessarily get significant playing time or take the lead role many are hoping for. James Cook could probably handle a full-time job, but he may choose to split carries with his brother if it improves the team’s chances of winning the Super Bowl.

NFL: 3 experienced players who could still be traded after 2023 NFL Draft

NFL: 3 experienced players who could still be traded after 2023 NFL Draft - thesportsdrops NEWS

The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/top-3-nfl-teams-with-most-potential-for-improvement-in-2023-20230216-SPD-3406.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kansas City Chiefs</a> represent Kansas City, Missouri, and compete in the National Football League. They play in the American Football Conference (AFC) West division of the league.



Formerly known as the Dallas Texans, this franchise has been around since 1959 because of the efforts of billionaire Lamar Hunt. The team changed their name and location to the present-day Kansas City Chiefs in the spring of 1963. The Chiefs have been a part of the NFL since its 1970 merger, and its current market worth is approximately $3.7 billion.



While they started out well early in the playoffs in their history, by winning five of their first six games, the club would then fail to repeat that success, losing 10 of eleven playoff games between 1993 and 2017, including a skid of eight straight defeats. In the years thereafter, Andy Reid and <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/patrick-mahomes-super-bowl-rings-how-many-nfl-championships-has-the-quarterback-won-20230218-SPD-3419.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patrick Mahomes</a> have led the Chiefs to prominence.



<h2>Number of Chiefs NFL Championships</h2>



The Chiefs have been crowned champions of the NFL’s highest honor three times so far. They have triumphed in <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-how-much-do-super-bowl-rings-cost-20230212-SPD-3400.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Super Bowls</a> IV (1969), LIV (2020), and LVII (2003). (2023).



In 1966, the first Super Bowl was played, and the Kansas City Chiefs participated., but they finally broke through in Super Bowl IV in 1970. It was a game versus the Minnesota Vikings that ultimately decided who would win the Super Bowl.



It took another half-century for them to return to the Super Bowl. In 2020, the Chiefs played in the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers for the first time in their history. The Chiefs overcame the 49ers and won their second Super Bowl under the direction of game MVP Patrick Mahomes.



One year later, the Chiefs were back in the Super Bowl, but this time they were defeated by Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-9. While Mahomes had a less-than-stellar season the year before, he led the Chiefs to a remarkable comeback in 2022-23, which culminated in a Super Bowl win against the Philadelphia Eagles and an <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-how-much-does-the-super-bowl-mvp-winner-receive-20230211-SPD-3394.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MVP awar</a>d for Mahomes.

Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl Rings: How many NFL titles have the Patriots won?

Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl Rings: How many NFL titles have the Patriots won? - thesportsdrops NEWS

<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-rumors-patrick-mahomes-and-potential-mvp-candidates-of-2022-season-20221108-SPD-3092.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patrick Mahomes</a>, the quarterback for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-travis-kelce-believes-we-have-yet-to-see-the-best-of-patrick-mahomes-2546-20220818-SPD-2546.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kansas City Chiefs</a>, has been breaking passing records recently. Since joining the Chiefs in 2016, Mahomes has shown he can compete with the most seasoned veterans in the game.



After Super Bowl LIV, Mahomes became the third-youngest player to win the MVP award. He was the second quarterback to win the award (after Tom Brady) before turning 25.



During the last several seasons, Patrick Mahomes has amassed an impressive collection of awards and has become the Chiefs’ main source of revenue. Every year of his professional NFL career up to this point has included a trip to the playoffs.



<h2>Number of Patrick Mahomes NFL Championships</h2>



With three trips to the Super Bowl under his belt, Patrick Mahomes has won two championships. In the 2019 playoffs, he helped the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers, and in 2023, he led the team to victory against the Philadelphia Eagles, earning him a trip to the Super Bowl in both years.



Mahomes led the Chiefs to a come-from-behind 35-24 victory against the 49ers to become the youngest starting quarterback in Super Bowl history. In his third game, he outdid himself by erasing a 10-point halftime deficit while playing with an exacerbated high ankle sprain. His most recent victory, in Super Bowl 2023, against the Philadelphia Eagles was his second Super Bowl.



Resuming his Super Bowl career after suffering a recurrence of the high ankle sprain he sustained against the Jaguars, Mahomes was magnificent in leading his team to a comeback victory from a 10-point deficit at halftime. He tossed three touchdown passes and led a fourth-quarter Chiefs’ drive that covered 26 yards on the ground to give Kansas City their first lead of the game.

Patrick Mahomes’ Super Bowl Rings: How many NFL championships has the quarterback won?

Patrick Mahomes’ Super Bowl Rings: How many NFL championships has the quarterback won? - thesportsdrops NEWS

The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-return-to-buccaneers-and-four-other-options-for-tom-brady-20230118-SPD-3332.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NFL divisional playoffs</a> ended many debates over who the top teams were. The league’s four finest clubs will square off in the conference finals. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New York Giants by a large margin, proving once again that they are a top-tier NFL club and a legitimate title contender. 



The NFC Championship Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers will be played on January 21 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The 49ers advanced by defeating the Dallas Cowboys, setting up the conference’s top-two seeds against each other.



This year’s AFC Championship Game features a rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals, two of the greatest teams in the league. Although Patrick Mahomes played through a high ankle injury to help the Chiefs beat the Jaguars, Joe Burrow led the Bengals to a dominating win against the Bills in Buffalo’s snow.



<h2>AFC Championship – Kansas City Chiefs</h2>



Already, the anticipated rematch between the Chiefs and Bengals from last year’s AFC championship game is exciting. When you add in <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/top-3-kickers-in-nfl-history-20221228-SPD-3287.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patrick Mahomes</a> and Joe Burrow and consider that Mahomes is playing with a high-ankle sprain, you have a recipe for another classic in the NFL.



Mahomes is 0-3 against Burrow in the previous two years, including a 27-24 overtime loss in last year’s AFC Championship Game that Kansas City squandered after leading 21-10 in the second quarter. The average margin of victory in those games has been three points, with Cincinnati outscoring Kansas City 26-6 in the last frame and overtime.



Since they had a winning record at Arrowhead Stadium during the regular season, they have a solid shot of beating the Bengals there. Though the Chiefs eventually prevailed 27-20 against the Jaguars in the Divisional Round, the Chiefs’ offensive line had been the league’s deadliest throughout the regular season.



<h2>NFC Championship – San Francisco 49ers</h2>



Unfortunately for fans of both teams, the 49ers and Eagles have only ever met once in the playoffs (the 49ers won 14-0 in the 1996 NFC Wild Card round). Both of today’s starting quarterbacks, Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy, weren’t even conceived then. This will be the youngest NFC Championship Game ever, with Hurts (24 years, 175 days) facing off against Purdy (23 years, 33 days).



In his first year as a starter, Purdy became just the fourth quarterback to win a conference title after being taken in the sixth round or later (or going undrafted). It marks the 49ers’ 18th trip to the NFL’s conference championship game (and third in the last four years). As far as we can tell, they are the only NFC club that has never been to Philadelphia for a playoff game.



Kyle Shanahan has played in an NFC Conference Championship game before, in 2021 when his team fell 20-17 to the Los Angeles Rams. Hopes have been raised, their performance has improved, and Purdy seems to be the frontrunner to start next season.

NFL: The 2 heavy favorites to take home 2023 Conference Championship title

NFL: The 2 heavy favorites to take home 2023 Conference Championship title - thesportsdrops NEWS

After a single season with the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-russell-wilson-gets-real-on-broncos-locker-room-mood-after-2-4-start-20221019-SPD-2993.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Giants</a>, in which he played in only 12 games, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/odell-beckham-jr-s-return-to-rams-looks-unlikely-after-recieving-lowest-offer-20221012-SPD-2960.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kadarius Toney</a> is leaving the team. According to theScore and CBS Sports NFL source Jonathan Jones, the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/patriots-news-bill-belichick-knows-who-to-thank-for-tying-george-halas-on-career-wins-20221018-SPD-2985.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kansas City Chiefs</a> have acquired former Florida wide receiver and 20th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Corey Coleman.



The 23-year-old had trouble staying on the field during his brief time with the Giants, but he will be catching passes from Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City after being traded there in exchange for a 2023 third-round draft choice and a 2023 sixth-round draft pick.



There are now just five days before the November 1 trade deadline, and this deal comes a day after the Giants’ NFC East rival Eagles acquired pass rusher, Robert Quinn, from the Bears. Toney’s hamstring issue has kept him out of action, thus the Chiefs’ starting quarterback’s availability for Week 9 is in doubt. For the time being, the Kansas City Chiefs do not have a game scheduled.



<h2>Kadarius Toney to continue career in Kansas</h2>



Toney, a versatile offensive threat out of college, showed off his big-play talent as a rookie, exploding for 10 receptions and 189 yards in a game against the Cowboys before being tossed for throwing a punch. However, an oblique injury and numerous trips on the COVID reserve prevented him from playing more than 12 games that year. 



Despite the Giants’ severe lack of wide receiver depth and new head coach Brian Daboll’s preference for a pass-oriented offense, he was only involved in four plays through two games before becoming shelved with a hamstring injury.

Kadarius Toney of Giants traded to Chiefs in exchange for draft picks

Kadarius Toney of Giants traded to Chiefs in exchange for draft picks - thesportsdrops NEWS

<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/patrick-mahomes-admission-on-chiefs-shocking-loss-to-bengals-in-2022-nfl-playoffs-2485-20220809-SPD-2485.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patrick Mahomes</a> didn’t have a great performance in the 2021 season. However, even after throwing a career-high 13 interceptions, he still managed to lead the Chiefs to a deep run in the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/super-bowl-champions-list-of-all-time-winners-215-20220503-SPD-215.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">postseason</a>.



Things didn’t end well, as Kansas City eventually lost to the Cincinnati <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-joe-mixon-believes-the-bengals-have-what-it-takes-to-return-to-the-super-bowl-1848-20220628-SPD-1848.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bengals</a> in the AFC Championship Game. Still, it was another year they went far with Mahomes under center. With the 2022 NFL season drawing nearer, all eyes will be on them again.



It will certainly be a different year for Mahomes with a new group of wide receivers as Tyreek Hill left for the Dolphins. However, Travis Kelce believes his quarterback will take his level to new heights.



<h2>Travis Kelce Says NFL Will See An Even Better Version Of Patrick Mahomes</h2>



“What Pat’s able to do is keep developing. He keeps finding ways to get better as a quarterback,” Kelce said, via Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports. “And that, by far, is what’s made this offense take off and go into more of a passing offense than what we’ve had in the past.



“I’ve always thought he’s been one of the smartest guys I’ve ever been around on the football field — whether it’s just playing off natural instincts or actually knowing what the defense is doing. I’ll leave that up to him to tell you. But I think his development over the offseason has got a lot to do with taking it to that next step, whether it’s that next read or understanding what the defense is doing so you know where to go even more precise with the ball instead of just feeling out the defense.



“I’ve really seen that out of him in this camp more than any. I see it from Pat every game that we play on and off the field. He’s just a competitor, a natural competitor.”



It’s not like Mahomes has anything left to prove, but it will be interesting to see how he performs after big changes in the Chiefs’ WR room. If you ask Kelce, we should only expect to see even better things from him.

NFL News: Travis Kelce believes we have yet to see the best of Patrick Mahomes - thesportsdrops NEWS

NFL News: Travis Kelce believes we have yet to see the best of Patrick Mahomes

When the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/super-bowl-champions-list-of-all-time-winners-215-20220503-SPD-215.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chiefs</a> headed into the locker room at halftime of the 2022 AFC Championship Game against the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-joe-mixon-believes-the-bengals-have-what-it-takes-to-return-to-the-super-bowl-1848-20220628-SPD-1848.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bengals</a>, it looked like a third consecutive trip to the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/russell-wilson-explains-why-he-chose-the-denver-broncos-1683-20220621-SPD-1683.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Super Bowl</a> was just around the corner.



Following an electric start to the game by Patrick Mahomes and company, Kansas City was leading 21-10 at the break. However, something happened between the moment they left the field and came back for the third quarter.



The Chiefs never looked like their true selves again, Cincinnati put things level and eventually won the game in overtime. Months later, Mahomes suggested why his team suffered that shocking collapse.



<h2>Patrick Mahomes opens up on the Chiefs’ loss to Bengals in 2022 AFC Championship Game</h2>



“The second half of that game: I don’t want to say we relaxed, but I mean when you lead like you did, you want to make sure you win the game, but you don’t want to play like you’re playing not to lose,” Mahomes told Kevin Clark of The Ringer. “And I feel like that’s what we did. As a team, we were playing not to lose, we were playing just to get to the Super Bowl. 



“If you look, they didn’t do much different from the first half to the second half. We just didn’t execute at a high enough level. They were playing the same coverages and we weren’t executing. Then momentum gets in the other team’s favor and when you’re playing a good football team, bad stuff happens.”

Patrick Mahomes' admission on Chiefs' shocking loss to Bengals in 2022 NFL Playoffs

Patrick Mahomes' admission on Chiefs' shocking loss to Bengals in 2022 NFL Playoffs - thesportsdrops NEWS

After having trouble getting after the quarterback for much of 2021, the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-arizona-put-new-arrival-marquise-brown-on-injured-list-2386-20220727-SPD-2386.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kansas City&nbsp;Chiefs</a> saw one of their best pass rushers, midseason acquisition Melvin Ingram, go for the Dolphins this summer. ESPN and NFL Media both reported on Thursday that the team had signed former Pro Bowl starter <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-mike-mccarthy-gets-strong-support-from-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-2364-20220726-SPD-2364.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carlos Dunlap</a> to a one-year contract, giving them a fresh experience at the position as training camp got began.



As reported by Ian Rapoport, the 33-year-old Dunlap, who spent most of the previous two seasons with the Seahawks, is set to make up to $8 million on the contract. Since Seattle released him in March, the veteran Bengals star has been looking for a new team.



After ten years with the Bengals, Seattle signed Dunlap for the last two seasons. Despite entering his mid-30s, Dunlap has continued to be an effective defensive end, one who can still sack the quarterback and cause havoc for much younger offensive linemen thanks to his savvy.



<h2>Carlos Dunlap to play 2022-23 season for Chiefs</h2>



As a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 2021, Dunlap had 8.5 sacks. Before being traded to Seattle in the middle of the 2020 season, the veteran played his first 11 seasons with Cincinnati, where he recorded 82.5 sacks. The 33-year-old proved he still has what it takes to pressure the quarterback and make nice tackles last season.



The acquisition of Dunlap strengthens a unit that has been struggling as a whole for the squad. With his experience and leadership, the team’s young defensive line will benefit greatly from his presence.

NFL News: Carlos Dunlap moves to Chiefs on one-year deal

NFL News: Carlos Dunlap moves to Chiefs on one-year deal - thesportsdrops NEWS

<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-cardinals-snatch-2022-usfl-mvp-victor-bolden-jr-2329-20220723-SPD-2329.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orlando Brown</a>‘s status with the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-kyler-murray-extends-cardinals-contract-for-five-years-2313-20220722-SPD-2313.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kansas City Chiefs</a> remains uncertain, as the team has yet to receive confirmation that he would accept the franchise tag and report for training camp. Both parties were unable to secure an extension before the July 15 franchise tag deadline, thus he will become a free agent in 2023.



There were rumblings that the Chiefs were disappointed that the offensive tackle and the team could not agree on a long-term contract after the contract discussions concluded. A member of the Kansas front office was quoted as saying that Brown “isn’t the same man that we traded for” and that he “was going to be a team player and work with them on a team-friendly sort of contract.”



<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-eddie-goldman-retires-at-28-two-weeks-after-joining-falcons-2301-20220720-SPD-2301.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patrick Mahomes</a> got the chance to respond to the story, and he emphatically denied the claims that the 26-year-old was not a team player. Since Brown’s arrival in Kansas City, Mahomes’ friendship with him has only grown stronger.



<h2>What Mahomes said about Brown</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I have no idea who said that. I mean he’s a great team player. He’s one of the smartest football players I think I’ve ever played with. He has a high IQ, I remember even when he wasn’t at OTAs he’s asking me questions, he’s watching the film, he’s doing everything to make sure that when he steps here, he’s ready to go. “I think that comes with him cause his dad played in the league, he has been around the sport his whole life and you ask anyone on this team he’s one of the best guys on this team, if not the best one”, Mahomes said Friday.</blockquote>

Kansas City Chiefs