Travis Kelce was limited in practice for the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday after suffering a neck injury ahead of their final regular season game against the LA Chargers this weekend.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid hinted earlier this week that he could rest his regular starters for the trip to LA after already nailing down the No 3 seed in this season’s playoffs, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes already a confirmed absentee.
And just three days out from the game, the Super Bowl champions have listed Kelce as being ‘limited’ in practice due to his neck injury, meaning he too is a doubt for Sunday’s outing at SoFi Stadium.
The Chiefs sealed a place in this season’s NFL playoffs, as well as their eighth straight AFC West championship, with a 25-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on New Year’s Eve.
They head into the playoffs locked in as the AFC’s No 3 seed behind the Miami Dolphins and the Baltimore Ravens, but it remains unclear which opponent will be coming to Kansas City for the Wild Card round.
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Travis Kelce was limited in practice for the Chiefs on Thursday after suffering a neck injury
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Reid has confirmed multiple starters will not feature against the Chargers given they have already wrapped up a playoff berth, but Reid didn’t commit one way or another as to how much Kelce will play Sunday.
When he was asked about the players that were close to milestones playing against Los Angeles, the 65-year-old Reid said it ‘depends’ on what the accomplishment is.
Then a reporter asked directly about Kelce’s chance at an eighth-consecutive 1,000-yard-receiving season. ‘We’ll see how all that goes,’ Reid said.
Reid added the conversations about playing in Week 18 for players are ‘one-sided.’
Mahomes has played in every game so far this season, but Reid confirmed on Wednesday that he will not suit up this weekend.
While it has not quite been the regular season campaign the Chiefs would have hoped for, Sunday’s game against the Chargers will not have an impact on the team’s finishing position.
The decision gives backup Blaine Gabbert, 34, the chance to start his first Chiefs game, after joining them in the offseason.
