NEW DELHI: During Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, Travis Kelce, the star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, suffered a right ankle injury in the second quarter. This forced Kelce to temporarily leave the game, and he underwent X-rays on his right foot while in the locker room. NFL Network reported after the game that he had been diagnosed with a low ankle sprain.
In a display of his resilience and toughness, Kelce returned to the field to play in the third quarter, impressing Chiefs coach Andy Reid. Reid commented, "I wasn't sure where we were going at halftime. Pretty tough kid. I wasn't clear until he came out and told me. He said, 'Just give me a minute, I'll get this thing right."
The injury occurred following a catch Kelce made late in the second quarter. As he planted his right foot, he slipped awkwardly on the turf and went down without being touched by an opponent. Despite this, Kelce managed to jog off the field under his own power. He then engaged with trainers on the sideline before heading to the locker room for further evaluation.
Initially, the Chiefs listed Kelce as questionable to return for the second half. Remarkably, he did not participate in the Chiefs' first drive of the third quarter, during which the team embarked on an 11-play touchdown drive, taking a 20-13 lead.
However, Kelce made a comeback for the subsequent drive and made an impact by catching five passes, including a 4-yard touchdown reception with just 2:45 remaining in the quarter. By the end of the game, Kelce had accumulated an impressive 10 receptions for 67 yards.
Despite turning 34 recently, Travis Kelce continues to be an influential player and an eight-time Pro Bowler for the Chiefs.
It's noteworthy that while Kelce's relationship with pop star Taylor Swift has attracted international attention, there were no reports of her attending the game in Minneapolis on Sunday.
(With Reuters inputs)
