Chiefs TE Travis Kelce ready for wild-card game vs. Steelers after missing Week 16

After being held out of the Kansas City Chiefs’ first matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers because of COVID-19 protocols, Travis Kelce is as excited as ever to get on the field for wild-card weekend. Those protocols have since been modified to make return-to-play easier for players in accordance with the latest COVID-19 guidelines.

Kelce told reporters on Wednesday that though he respects the intent of the league’s procedure, it was “frustrating” to be unable to contribute and play with his teammates against a capable opponent.

“It was a pretty frustrating time,” Kelce said of missing action. “I think even though I had some symptoms, it was nothing that would have ever kept me out of being in the facility, practicing and then going to play in a game. So, it was pretty frustrating to not just go out there with my guys. Then once the game actually happened, I had some fun watching us go to work because we were hitting on all cylinders. When the Chiefs are hitting on all cylinders, we have a lot of fun doing it.”

Any lift Kelce can bring Kansas City’s offense on Sunday should be a boon to their chances of advancing in the playoffs as the team looks to make their play on a third-consecutive Super Bowl appearance. MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes tends to play his best football when he has his All-Pro tight end as a safety valve and should benefit from Kelce’s inclusion in the matchup.

The Steelers, for their part, are a well-coached team that has the talent to neutralize Kelce if they are willing to jeopardize their ability to shut down Tyreek Hill on the outside. With the pick-your-poison tandem of Kelce and Hill back in effect this weekend in primetime, the Chiefs have to be confident in their ability to pull out a big win over a team they steamrolled just a few weeks ago.

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First injury report for Chiefs vs. Steelers, wild-card round