Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter in Super Bowl LVII.Photo:Christian Petersen/Getty
Christian Petersen/Getty
Travis Kelcemight be watching from the sidelines when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night.
The tight end suffered theinjury to his ankle just before halftimeduring Sunday’s road game in Minnesota. Kelce slid on the field at Minneapolis' U.S. Bank Stadium and turned his ankle at an awkward angle ashis team faced the Minnesota Vikings.
The NFL star then limped off the field, slamming his helmet to the ground in anger. After trying to stretch it out for a few moments, Kelce went to the locker room for x-rays during halftime.
He ran back on the field for the second half with his ankle taped up, and spent the Chiefs' next drive (which ended in a touchdown) running up and down the sidelines, checking on his ankle before returning later in the quarter.
And with 2:45 left in the third, Kelce showed he could play through the pain as he caught a pass just outside the end zone and brought it in for a touchdown.
Travis Kelce.Dustin Satloff/Getty
Dustin Satloff/Getty
The Chiefs defeated the Vikings 27-20 on Sunday, but Kelce’s injury may keep him out of Thursday’s matchup in Kansas City.
Kelce dealt with other injury issues earlier in the season, and wasforced to sit out Week 1after hyperextending his knee and developing a bone bruise during the Chiefs' last practice before the start of the season. He made his season debut in Week 2 and has played each week since.
If Kelce does suit up for Thursday Night Football, it won’t just be Chiefs fans tuning in to see the NFL star. Kelce’s rumored relationship with superstar Taylor Swift has inspired the singer’s fans to watch Chiefs games, and the Swifties have catapulted Kelce’s fame in recent weeks.
Swift, 33,watched his Sept. 24 gameagainst the Chicago Bears alongside his mom,Donna Kelce, in Kelce’s suite, before leaving with him after the win tocelebrate with friends at a postgame partyin Kansas City.
Travis Kelce attends the Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix’s “Quarterback”; Taylor Swift attends ‘In Conversation With… Taylor Swift’ during the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.JC Olivera/Getty Images; Amy Sussman/Getty Images
JC Olivera/Getty Images; Amy Sussman/Getty Images
After Swift’s attendance, a spokesperson for Fanatics told PEOPLE, “Yesterday, Travis Kelce was one of the top 5 selling NFL players and saw a nearly 400% spike in sales throughout the Fanatics network of sites, includingNFLShop.com."
A week later, the “Anti-Hero” singer cheered him on alongside athrong of celebrity friendsat MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as the Chiefs beat the New York Jets. She didn’t appear to attend the Chiefs' game in Minnesota.
Taylor Swift and Blake Lively cheer from the stands during an NFL football game between the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs.Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
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Kelce and Swift are “still just getting to know each other,“a source told PEOPLErecently, adding, “It’s nothing too serious.”
Though Kelce is spending time with Swift, “he’s focusing on football like he always has,” the source says. “During the NFL season, his priority is the Chiefs, and it’s all about the team.”
source: people.com
