Travis Kelce Injury: Updates on Chiefs TE's Leg and Return

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce suffered a sprained ankle during an Aug. 31 practice, but he was able to return for the regular-season opener against the Houston Texans.

On Sept. 1, Reid noted that Kelce does not have a high ankle sprain and that the tight end would play if it were a regular-season game, via BJ Kissel of KCChiefs.com.

He experienced a breakout season in 2014 and led the team with 862 receiving yards. He also notched five touchdown catches and proved to be a security blanket for quarterback Alex Smith on third downs and in critical moments.

With wide receiver Dwayne Bowe on the Cleveland Browns this season, Kelce is expected to shoulder plenty of the load in the aerial attack alongside Jeremy Maclin.

Steve Palazzolo of ESPN actually viewed Kelce as the fourth-best tight end in the league entering the 2015 campaign (h/t KCChiefs.com):  

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It might be early to crown Kelce, but the results were impressive in what essentially amounted to his redshirt freshman season in 2014. He picked up 862 receiving yards, good for sixth in the league among tight ends, but it was his league-high 503 yards after the catch that turned heads. It was the third-highest total at the position since 2007, as Kelce proved to be Gronk-like in the open field.

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Kansas City needs Kelce on the field if it wants to be a complete offense this season, and his presence will allow the Chiefs to contend for a playoff spot in the AFC West.