The Kansas City Chiefs are currently on a seven-game winning streak and if they are going to make it eight, ESPN insider Adam Schefter is reporting that they might just have to do it without one of the best tight ends of all-time, Travis Kelce.
Much like many other players this Monday and most Mondays prior, Kelce was placed on his team's reserve/COVID-19, putting his status for Sunday's big game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in doubt. Because Kelce is vaccinated and also because of the NFL's new relaxed return to play rules, it is still possible, if not likely that Kelce can/will be cleared in time to face the Steelers.
The Chiefs will be in dire straits if Kelce is unable to play. His backups, Noah Gray and Blake Bell have combined on the year for only nine catches. They have been on the field mainly to block and to spell Kelce on occasion, but they do not have the type of experience needed, especially against a veteran team like the Steelers. If Gray and Bell are forced into action, they will have huge shoes to fill as Kelce has some of the best numbers for a tight end this season, this century, and of all time.
For the year, Kelce has 83 catches for 1,066 yards and eight total touchdowns. Those numbers are right on par with his career numbers, as Kelce has 8,947 receiving yards and 57 total touchdowns in almost eight full seasons of play. That total yardage is good for sixth all-time and his 71.6 receiving yards per game is first all-time, more than seven yards ahead of second-place Rob Gronkowski (64.4).