Error code: %{errorCode}

Football

Which 11 Kansas City Chiefs players caught passes while Travis Kelce was injured?

Philip Marsh
Which 11 Kansas City Chiefs players caught passes while Travis Kelce was injured?Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The star tight end missed his first game in a decade.

Since Tyreek Hill's move to the Miami Dolphins, the Kansas City Chiefs have relied heavily on tight end Travis Kelce to move the ball down the field.

This is by no means an issue. Kelce has over 1,000 receiving yards for seven straight seasons and before Thursday had not missed a game due to injury since his rookie campaign in 2013.

However, the 33-year-old missed the kick-off game against the Detroit Lions after hyperextending his knee in training and being diagnosed with a bone bruise.

As a result, Kelce could only watch from the sideline as the reigning Super Bowl champions lost 21-20 against the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead, despite the best efforts of quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Without his favourite target, Mahomes was forced to spread the ball around, his first seven completions were all to different receivers.

And by the end of the game, Mahomes had completed passes to 11 different players - ultimately in vain.

With Kelce considered week-to-week, the Chiefs may need to rely on others to step up in the passing game, so DAZN takes a look at the 11 players who attempted to fill Kelce's void on Thursday.

Isiah Pacheco

The player with the most completions for the Chiefs on Thursday was running back Isiah Pacheco with four.

The sophomore was inefficient on the ground, but at least provided Mahomes with an option through the air.

Rashee Rice

Perhaps the biggest positive for the Chiefs on Thursday was the performance of rookie Rashee Rice.

The rookie only caught three passes but they included Kansas City's first touchdown of the game.

Noah Gray

Kelce's replacement at tight end for the majority of snaps was Noah Gray, who was always going to struggle to make a similar impact.

The 24-year-old did make three catches for 31 yards, but he was not the tight end to find the end zone in the contest.

View post on Twitter

Blake Bell

The tight end to make the touchdown grab against the Lions was Blake Bell, one of two catches in the contest for the former San Francisco 49er.

The 32-year-old has never had more than 15 receptions in a season, but could come close to that figure if Kelce remains sidelined.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling

With two receptions, wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling led the Chiefs in receiving yards against the Lions with 48.

The majority of those came on a deep pass which needed an impressive catch from the former Green Bay Packer, but that was as good as it got.

View post on Twitter

Justin Watson

The only other player with more than one reception was wide receiver Justin Watson, who managed just two.

The former Tampa Bay Buccaneer averaged 22.5 yards across his two receptions, but like everyone else fails to command more attention from Mahomes.

Jerick McKinnon

After finishing the 2022 season in impressive style, running back Jerick McKinnon could not make a similar impression against the Lions.

The versatile running back made just one grab for 10 yards and had no carries in the game.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Another running back with just one reception, the Chiefs' 2020 first round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire caught his sole target of the game for a seven-yard gain.

Edwards-Helaire also added 22 yards off six carries, but like the rest of the team struggled against a tough Lions defence.

Richie James

Wide receiver Richie James had just one reception for six yards on Thursday night, while adding 16 yards on three punt returns.

The 28-year-old joined the Chiefs this offseason after leaving the New York Giants but could not make a key impact on his debut.

Kadarius Toney

It was an evening to forget for wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who had just one catch for a solitary yard.

The former New York Giants receiver made several key drops, including one tipped pass which was returned for a pick-six.

View post on Twitter

Justyn Ross

After missing the 2022 season with injury, Justyn Ross played his first game for the Chiefs on Thursday.

However the 23-year-old saw the least snaps of any wide receiver with just six, in which he caught one pass for six yards.

Skyy Moore

Those counting will know there have already been 11 receivers listed, but Skyy Moore must be mentioned.

The sophomore wide receiver failed to haul in any of the three passes thrown his direction, and finished the game with no receiving yards despite playing 45 snaps.

DAZN will deliver the NFL Game Pass International service from the 2023 season across the world (except the U.S. and China), find out more here.