Travis Kelce's Injury Affects Kansas City Chiefs' Betting Odds
The Kansas City Chiefs' star tight end Travis Kelce suffered from a knee injury during a practice on Tuesday, shaking up NFL betting markets.
With the start of the new NFL season coming up on Thursday evening in Kansas City, the Chiefs will be dueling it out against the Detroit Lions. Kelce, who is 33 years old and considered the top tight end in the league, is currently listed as "questionable" for the Lions game due to his injury.
The Lions have high hopes for this season, aiming for their first playoff win since 1991. Their sights are set on winning the NFC North and securing their first division title in over 30 years.
The Chiefs are part of the top three elite teams in the AFC, alongside the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, that many people think will win their conference championships. The Chiefs are favored to win the Super Bowl once again, something that hasn't happened in almost 20 years since the 2004 New England Patriots.
The Chiefs are the favorite to win their eighth consecutive AFC West division title.
Kelce Hyper-Extends Knee
Kelce has become Patrick Mahomes' favorite target in recent years, playing a crucial role in the Chiefs' success. Since 2017, Kelce has only missed four games, with two of them not counting towards the regular season.
In 2022, Kelce had the best statistical season of his career. He caught 110 passes, scoring 12 touchdowns in 17 games. Additionally, he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for a seventh consecutive year with 1,338 receiving yards.
During practice, Kelce sustained a knee injury by hyperextending it. He was able to walk off the field on his own.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid wasn't very forthcoming about the severity of the injury when speaking to reporters.
"We'll just see how he does going forward" said Reid.
If Kelce cannot play against the Lions, he would have an extra ten days of rest before the Chiefs play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2.
"The next guy steps in and we roll," added Reid. "That's what you do, if that's the case."
The Chiefs' roster includes tight ends Noah Gray and Blake Bell, both of whom could potentially replace Kelce.
Gray, a fifth-round pick in 2021 from Duke, has completed his second season with the Chiefs. Last year, he collected 28 receptions for 299 yards and a touchdown.
Bell, a former Sooner, is in his second stint with the Chiefs. He is mainly known for his blocking and added 19 receptions and one touchdown in his previous season with the team.
Oddsmakers Shorten Chiefs Spread
The Chiefs opened as a seven-point favorite against the Lions, but the line has been altered following Kelce's injury. Some major sportsbooks in Las Vegas and offshore have dropped the line from -6.5 to -5.5.
After the news of Kelce's injury broke, oddsmakers made necessary adjustments with the Chiefs/Lions game's line, dropping it to -5 at the Westgate SuperBook and Crica Casino.
Chris Andrews, the head bookmaker at the South Point Casino, moved the Chiefs/Lions line from -6.5 to -5.5.
DraftKings currently has a -5.5 line on the Chiefs playing against the Lions in the NFL opener on Thursday.
The total points for the Chiefs/Lions game opened at 53.5 over/under but has been dropped to 53 by many sportsbooks. The only exception is Circa, who set the line at 52.5 over/under.
Notably, the Chiefs will start their season without one of their top defensive players as well. Chris Jones, a defensive tackle, is holding out due to a contract dispute.
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