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The Kansas City Chiefs were without Travis Kelce for their Week 16 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the team didn't miss a step in his absence. After a statement victory over the Steelers, extending their winning streak to eight games, the Chiefs are set to get a big boost ahead of their Week 17 bout with the Bengals. Per Pete Sweeney, Andy Reid revealed that every player on the 53-man roster has cleared the NFL's COVID protocols, and will thus be available for Week 17.
#Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has confirmed that every player on the 53-man active roster has passed their COVID-19 tests.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) December 29, 2021
That's huge news for the Chiefs, who will be back to full strength for their matchup with the Bengals. Most notably, the Chiefs will have Kelce back on the field, which will have a huge impact on the team's offensive game plan. While Patrick Mahomes was spectacular even without the star tight end in Week 16, a matchup with the Bengals presents a more formidable challenge. Kelce presents a matchup nightmare for any defense, and the Bengals will have their hands full trying to account for him and Tyreek Hill, among the rest of KC's weapons.
On the year, Kelce has recorded 83 receptions on 122 targets, racking up 1,066 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches. This is the 32-year-old's sixth consecutive season with more than 1,000 receiving yards. Coincidentally, the Chiefs have won the AFC West each year during that span, indicating just how crucial Kelce is to their success.
At 11-4, the Chiefs are hoping to lock up the top seed in the AFC, and a win against Cincinnati would go a long way towards helping them achieve that.
