Travis Kelce Opens up About Ankle Injury Prior to KC Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
The Kansas City Chiefs are squaring off against the Denver Broncos to kick off the NFL's Week 6 slate on Thursday Night Football, and tight end Travis Kelce is active for the game. That wasn't always a certainty, though.
Kelce, who is easily Kansas City's best pass-catching option for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, suffered a low-ankle sprain this past weekend against the Minnesota Vikings. He had to briefly exit the game and was hobbled for the second half, yet he still managed to turn in several receptions and a touchdown. The All-Pro was a limited participant in practice throughout the week, leaving a bit of question surrounding whether he'd be able to play on Thursday. The chances of him being inactive have since been extinguished.
Kelce is a full-go for Week 6, even appearing in a pregame interview with Taylor Rooks on the Amazon Prime Video broadcast. In a clip tweeted out prior to the game, Kelce opened up about his health and why it's important for him to be available for his teammates.
"We're working through it, you know?" Kelce said. "It's the football season, so you're going to get banged up. You're going to have some things go on during the season that cause some discomfort — it's the nature of the game. What I did last week is something I expect [and] wouldn't doubt any other guy on this team doing. Once you're all in, you're going to do what you can to fight through it and be there for your teammates."
In case you've somehow missed the news, the 34-year-old is also dating singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Rooks asked Kelce how he's adjusting to a busy football and non-football life, and he said he's finding ways to block out the noise and enjoy every aspect of what's happening right now.
"I embrace it," Kelce said. "I love the chaos. Knowing everybody is looking at the Kansas City Chiefs, and then you add in all the madness that's happening out here in the world, and it's a whole bunch of fun for me right now."
It's been a wild 2023 for Kelce, who won Super Bowl LVII back in February after he, his brother Jason and their mother Donna became a bigger story than the game itself. Jason's Philadelphia Eagles were the Chiefs' opponent for the game, with Donna and the entire Kelce family being challenged in terms of who to root for. The Chiefs star also had highlight moments such as visiting the White House, playing in golf outings with Mahomes and even hosting Saturday Night Live. Kelce appreciates everything that's gone eight for him this year, saying it's his goal to make a positive impact.
"I'm so fortunate to even be able to be on that stage," Kelce said. "It was a mindblowing experience. The biggest thing in the NFL is that we wear that mask, right? We wear our uniforms and our masks, so being able to get into the living rooms and out from under that helmet, and to be able to influence and have fun and be known for good things out here in the world... that's always been the goal off the field."
