Travis Kelce Reveals Details About Back Injury

Travis Kelce (back) of the Kansas City Chiefs was a game-time decision for the AFC Championship. Although he did play, the back problem he suffered the day before the game is still worth discussing, since it might flare up again before or during Super Bowl LVII.

Travis Kelce discussed his back issue and what it took to be ready for the AFC Championship Game with his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, on their “New Heights” podcast.

“I’ll tell you what, that sh*t sucked, man,” Travis said. Jason then asked him when he sustained the back injury. “It happened the second-to-last play of practice on Friday…I think just a little bit of fatigue got to me throughout the week and into that practice, and — I was feeling good going into that last period too”.

“Everything felt great, and I just moved the wrong way at the wrong, I guess, angle, and my back just locked up and fired up, man, and I was lucky that we got some of the best trainers in the world in Kansas City”.

“It was unbelievable how much time I spent on my stomach getting my backed worked on, getting needles thrown into me… just anything that could possibly help for Friday night, Saturday the entire day, and then Sunday before the game”.

“It was a 72-hour, just, focus on trying to get his thing loosened up. It was a game-time decision… I woke up the morning of the game like, ‘man, this thing is still tight, I can’t fully straighten my back, like, I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to put — like I haven’t ran yet, I haven’t done a squat or anything, I’m been trying to just relax and let my body just heal.’

“It was a scary thought, man. For me, mentally, I was in a whole different place. I was trying not to let it ruin my days. But that sh*t wasn’t fun, man. I was thankful that we have the trainers that we have, David Glover, Julie [Frymyer], Tiff [Tiffany Morton], Evan Craft, all my favorite people — Rick Burkholder… I love you guys. You guys have made my career, help make my career what it is already, and definitely got me ready for this weekend.”

Kelce’s performance against the Cincinnati Bengals was unaffected by his back ailment, as he caught 7 receptions on 8 targets for 78 yards. Kelce also established the NFL postseason record for most yards by a tight end in the AFC Championship (1,442).