Recently, a report went out that Travis Kelce will not be playing in the game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
As expected, rumors began flying around about possible injuries or the star player skipping a game to spend more time with his girlfriend, Taylor Swift.
But the truth is something different.
Kansas City Chiefs benched Travis Kelce for the regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers on January 8, 2024. This precautionary measure, a common NFL practice, aims to protect players’ health and minimize injury risks before the playoffs. So, there are no other underlying drama or issues.
Explained: Why Isn’t Travis Kelce Playing Against the Chargers?
Kansas City Chiefs fans can rest easy as star tight end Travis Kelce sits out the regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, January 8, 2024.
There’s no drama or animosity behind this decision, as it’s a common practice in the NFL to rest key players before the playoffs to avoid injuries.
This practice of resting key players in the final week of the regular season is widespread in the NFL and is aimed at preserving their health and minimizing the risk of injuries before the crucial playoff games.
Other teams like the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, and Cleveland Browns also made similar decisions in Week 18.
The Chiefs officially announced Kelce’s absence on Twitter/ X shortly before the game, emphasizing that it was a coaching decision.
In addition to Kelce, several other players, including Kadarius Toney and Rashee Rice (wide receivers), Mike Danna (defensive end), L’Jarius Sneed (cornerback), and Donovan Smith (tackle), were also listed as inactive for the game.
Head coach Andy Reid had already made it clear earlier in the week that star quarterback Patrick Mahomes would be sitting out this game, considering that AFC West had been secured and a playoff spot was guaranteed.
Instead, Blaine Gabbert was slated to start at quarterback. Thankfully, resting the big names didn’t affect the team, and the Chiefs won 13-12 over the Chargers.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Travis Kelce has been in such a situation.
In the 2020 season, he also sat out the regular season finale against the Chargers when the Chiefs had already secured their playoff spot. That year, they ended up reaching the Super Bowl.
As for Kelce’s individual achievements this season, he completed the regular season with impressive stats, including 93 receptions, 984 receiving yards, and five touchdowns.
However, his streak of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons came to an end at seven. This highlights his incredible consistency and prowess as a tight end in the NFL.
His relationship with Taylor Swift has come under the spotlight immensely since they began dating. The American footballer hasn’t shied from complimenting the 34-year-old Grammy-winning music sensation.
He quietly did so again during a TikTok session for the Kansas City Chiefs
In a fun and light-hearted moment, Travis Kelce was recently asked to reveal the “most famous person” in his contacts. Without hesitation, he humorously referred to Taylor Swift, saying, “You already know the easy [answer].”
When encouraged not to go for the easy answer, Kelce playfully named Justin Timberlake as the biggest A-lister in his phone, acknowledging that the former boy bander might be too busy to answer his call.
Were you worried that Kelce might have been benched for some other reason? Which team do you think will come out top this season?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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