Travis Kelce’s return to Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings wasn’t revealed to Patrick Mahomes until he saw Kelce on the field in the third quarter, according to Mahomes.
But Kelce’s longtime teammate knew that Kelce would eventually return to the Kansas City Chiefs’ starting lineup.
The Chiefs’ 27-20 victory was greatly influenced by Kelce. He made a comeback after suffering a right ankle injury late in the second quarter and caught three catches during the Chiefs’ 27-13 third-quarter drive. On third down, he made his biggest reception, a leaping 14-yard grab.
After the catch, the Vikings grabbed the ball away from Kelce, but the officials determined that Kelce was down when the ball was forced loose, and their decision stood up to a video challenge from the Vikings.
On a 4-yard grab, Kelce scored the touchdown to cap the drive.
Late in the half, when Kelce fell down awkwardly without being touched, it appeared that his day was finished. He stumbled off the field, smashed his helmet in anger, and headed to the locker room just before the first half concluded after briefly speaking with Chiefs medical staff.
At the conclusion of halftime, he didn’t immediately join his colleagues on the field, but instead emerged from the locker room just before the second half began.
Andy Reid, the coach, claimed he didn’t find out Kelce would play again “until he came out and told me.” The Chiefs’ opening drive of the half saw Kelce sit on the sidelines; however, he came back the following drive.
Without Kelce, the Chiefs scored twice—a field goal at the conclusion of the first half and a touchdown to open the third quarter.
Reid thought it “pretty amazing” that Kelce came back. After the first drive, Kelce participated in most of the second half, including the final defensive play as the Chiefs thwarted a Vikings drive.
Although Reid was unsure if Kelce would be able to participate in Thursday night’s game against the Denver Broncos, he did admit that “it was hurting him. He’ll feel some soreness.
While it might seem unlikely given that, Kelce previously disproved the Chiefs’ expectations of him against the Vikings.
