Travis Kelce injured and throws helmet in anger as Taylor Swift misses NFL gam

08 October 2023 , 22:12

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Travis Kelce left the game in the first half and will need an x-ray on his right foot

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce left the Minnesota Vikings game with a non-contact injury to his right foot in worrying scenes. Kelce was taken for X-rays at halftime but eventually returned to the sideline with his foot and ankle heavily strapped before returning to the game.

After catching a pass from Patrick Mahomes in the second quarter, Kelce went down after awkward footing and immediately threw his helmet down in frustration, signaling that he knew he was injured right away. He tried to walk it off, but he could not. He was pointing at his right foot and had to walk into the locker room.

It was a tough start to the afternoon for Kelce, who did not have rumoured love interest Taylor Swift watching for the first time in a number of weeks. She's been in attendance at his last two games but did not make the trip to Minneapolis.

In the first quarter, Mahomes launched a deep pass to Kelce that typically would have ended in a touchdown, but the tight end couldn't secure the catch. It was an embarrassing moment for a player of Kelce's calibre before his injury scare meant his afternoon went from bad to worse.

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Vikings defensive back Camryn Bynum and defensive end Marcus Davenport engaged Kelce in mid-air. Kelce managed to secure the ball at its highest point, but Bynum's physicality disrupted the play before Kelce could touch the ground, preventing what would have been a touchdown. Despite the challenging pass not being caught by Kelce, the Chiefs completed the drive with a score. Following two short field passes by Mahomes, Isiah Pacheco rushed up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown to give Kansas City a 7-3 lead.

Swift was not seen or reported at U.S. Bank Stadium as the broadcast began. Although no cameras captured the pop star in a private box with the Kelce family as they had in recent weeks, the announcers couldn't resist mentioning her. When Travis was seen walking onto the field, they commented on his strut, likening it to a "Swift walk." They also brought up the songwriter's name once more during pre-game warmups.

Kelce went down with a worrying non-contact injury (CBS Sports)

"Seven words I thought would never leave my lips in my career: Taylor Swift is not at the game," commentator Jim Nantz said. "She was questionable all week, but it looks like it's officially inactive." In June, Swift held two concerts at the U.S. Bank Stadium and showed gratitude towards the Minneapolis audience through social media. She described them as "generous" and expressed her love for every moment spent in the city.

In the last two games Swift attended, Kelce's performance increased like his jersey sales. He caught 11 passes for 95 yards and scored two touchdowns. While Swifties won't see Taylor supporting Kelce in Minnesota, they can expect her Eras Tour concert film to be released in theaters on October 13th and the release of "1989 (Taylor's Version)" on October 27th.

Hardcore NFL fans took a lighthearted approach to the absence of Swift from the game and playfully commented on social media. Some of the tweets included humorous remarks like, "No Taylor? What's the point," "I need a journalist in Minnesota to see how many people only went to the Vikings vs. Chiefs game hoping to see Taylor Swift," and "Is the Love Story over?"

Kelce headed to the locker room after throwing his helmet in frustration (CBS Sports)

The reason for the massive pop star's absence at the game over the weekend remains unclear, especially considering her apparent open schedule. She has a break until she resumes her Eras Tour next month, which adds to the intrigue surrounding her absence from the event.

Minneapolis was ready for the possibility of Swift's attendance at the game. The city placed a series of billboards around town. One of them, sponsored by the Minneapolis-based entertainment station 107.1 My Talk, had a simple message: "Beat Taylor's Boyfriend." The design was minimalist, with a stylized football drawing as the centerpiece.

In addition, Pfizer took advantage of the moment by sponsoring another billboard. The billboard featured a jersey with Travis Kelce's No. 87 and the nickname "Mr. Pfizer," which was given to him by New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers due to Kelce's participation in the brand's commercials.

Rory Robinson