Chiefs TE Travis Kelce returns vs. Falcons after left ankle scare on opening drive

Travis Kelce is back on the field for the Kansas City Chiefs in Atlanta. The 37-year-old tight end hurt his left ankle on the opening drive of Sunday's game against the Falcons, went to the locker room and returned with 7:05 left in the second quarter, USA TODAY Sports reported. The Chiefs had listed him as questionable to return.

The injury came on Kelce's first touch. Patrick Mahomes found him for a 23-yard gain, and Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams rolled up on him while making the tackle from behind. SB Nation reported that Kelce grabbed at his left ankle, limped to the sideline and had the ankle retaped before trainers walked him to the locker room. ProFootball Talk wrote that he tried to get back into the game first but couldn't, and was looked at briefly on the sideline before he went in for more tests. Kansas City finished the drive without him when Mahomes threw a touchdown pass to running back Emmett Johnson.

The ankle was already a concern coming into the game. RotoBaller, citing Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star, reported that Kelce had been dealing with an ankle problem this week but practiced fully every day. How it holds up over the rest of the afternoon, and on the injury report this week, matters more than the fact that he came back.

What it means for the Chiefs

Kelce is still the center of the passing game for the Chiefs, who came into Atlanta at 6-2 after beating the Jets 35-12. According to USA TODAY Sports, the 23-yard catch extended his streak to 200 straight games with at least one reception.

His return also kept the Chiefs from running short at tight end. Jared Wiley, the No. 4 tight end, was carted off with an ankle injury of his own and was later ruled out. That would have left Noah Gray and Jake Briningstool as the only healthy tight ends. Gray is the clear No. 2 and came into the game with 15 catches for 184 yards and a touchdown this season. Briningstool, an undrafted free agent signed in 2025, had three catches for 18 yards. If Kelce's ankle flares up later in the game or during the week, Gray would take on more of the in-line and receiving work, with Briningstool as the only other tight end.

What the market says about Arizona

The Chiefs host the Arizona Cardinals on November 22. As of Sunday afternoon, Kansas City is an 87% favorite across the three prediction markets on this game's board: Novig, Kalshi and Polymarket.

The three markets broadly agree on the Chiefs, but their prices differ. Kalshi has the lowest price on Kansas City at -788, or $12.69 profit per $100. Novig is at -900, and Polymarket is the highest at -947. On Arizona, Novig has the best number at +641, ahead of Kalshi at +625 and Polymarket at +585.

These prices will keep moving until kickoff. Kelce's practice status this week is the main thing to watch.