Kansas City Chiefs Sign New Tight End Amidst Calls For Travis Kelce To Be Benched – Gridiron Heroics
The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to continue their undefeated start to the season when they play the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football. Despite being 4-0, the Chiefs’ start to the 2024 NFL season, a year in which they are chasing a third straight Super Bowl title, has been far from perfect. Indeed, each of their games have been decided by seven or less points.
In addition, Kansas City has lost three key offensive playmakers, the absence of which has made life difficult for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Wide receiver Marquis “Hollywood” Brown, who signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs this past offseason, was lost for the year when he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in their first preseason game.
Since the year started, running back Isiah Pacheco has been placed on injured reserve with a fractured fibula. While he is expected to return later this year, he is going to be out for several weeks.
The Kansas City Chiefs May Have Lost Wide Receiver Rashee Rice for the Year
In Kansas City’s last game, a win over the Los Angeles Chargers, wide receiver Rashee Rice suffered a severe knee injury that may cost him the rest of the season. While trying to chase down a defender who had intercepted a pass, Mahomes made contact with Rice’s knee, knocking him out of the game and, perhaps, the season.
Due to the swelling in his knee, the team has been unable to diagnose what type of injury Rice has. It is believed that he has a torn ACL, but the swelling will have to go down before tests can accurately determine that. For now, Rice has been put on injured reserve, which means he will miss at least the next four games.
The second-year wide receiver is hopeful that the NFL will hand down any possible suspension stemming from his offseason legal issues during this time so that he can have the situation behind him when he gets healthy.
The Kansas City Chiefs Will Rely Heavily on Tight End Travis Kelce in the Passing Game
With their top two wide receivers and starting running back out, the Chiefs will rely more on tight end Travis Kelce in the passing game. Of course, this makes sense (in theory) as Kelce was the team’s leading pass catcher in six of the last 11 seasons.
The nine-time Pro Bowl tight end also had his best game of the year in Week Four. Kelce had seven receptions for 89 yards to lead Kansas City in receiving during their 17-10 victory.
It was a breath of fresh air for Chiefs fans, who had grown concerned that the now 35-year-old tight end might be on a steep decline. Going into last week, Kelce had just eight receptions for 69 yards, and many fans called for him to be benched.
The Kansas City Chiefs Signed Tight End Jody Fortson to Their Active Roster
On Friday, it was reported that the Chiefs were elevating practice squad tight end Jody Fortson to their active roster for Monday night’s game against the Saints. Fortson previously played for Kansas City, but signed with the Miami Dolphins this past offseason. He did not make their 53-man roster and was cut.
The Chiefs brought Fortson back on their own practice squad and may have need of him against New Orleans. With so many wide receivers out, Kansas City may choose to use Kelce even more in the passing game and will need depth for run blocking and pass protection.
Fortson has appeared in 19 games with the Chiefs, all of which came in 2021 and 2022. He has 14 career receptions for 155 yards and four touchdowns.
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