Jason Kelce Suffered Torn Quad Injury Squatting 635 Pounds While Training for 76ers Game Dunk

The mystery surrounding the postponement of Jason Kelce's dunk attempt during a Philadelphia 76ers game has been solved.

During ESPN's coverage of the Pro Bowl Games on Tuesday night, Kelce confirmed he tore his quad while squatting 635 pounds as part of his dunk training.

"It wasn't a full squat, full disclosure. I got the 685 very smoothly. I tore it doing 635 the following week trying to get to 700. Cause I'm trying to dunk for the first time in my life. To which my brother says, 'I don't think that that translates,'" Kelce said on the broadcast.

The dunk attempt was set up after Kelce joked on an episode of the New Heights podcast that he was going to attempt a slam.

Ironically, Kelce joked he was probably going to pop an Achilles. The good news is it doesn't seem like that happened, but a torn quad doesn't seem like it's much better.

Soon after Kelce said he was going to attempt a dunk, the Sixers announced plans to let him attempt one in front of fans during their Jan. 29 game against the Sacramento Kings.

On the day of the game, Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports reported Kelce's dunk was postponed for unspecified reasons. There has been no word on it potentially being rescheduled, though that could also depend on Kelce's recovery timeline.

Retired NFL centers suffering major leg injuries while training for big events is apparently a growing trend. Frank Ragnow was preparing to come out of retirement during the 2025 season to rejoin the Detroit Lions before a physical revealed he had a grade three hamstring strain.

Kelce, by his own admission, had never dunked prior to starting a workout regimen designed to help him do so. Hopefully fans will get to see him try it at some point, but a torn quad means it might take awhile before it happens.