The Chiefs are rolling -- and they might get one of their best playmakers back in time for Week 6.
Tight end Travis Kelce has advanced to the next stage of the league's concussion protocol and officially was a full participate at practice Thursday. Kelce suffered a concussion in Kansas City's Week 5 win over Houston.
Kelce is a major part of Kansas City's trio of weapons of him, receiver Tyreek Hill and rookie sensation Kareem Hunt. The tight end's size and athleticism puts him squarely in the conversation for the NFL's best tight end, and also makes him one of the league's most dangerous targets. The Chiefs' offense is substantially better with Kelce than without, but if he's forced out in Week 6, will have Demetrius Harris and Ross Travis in Kelce's place.
The Chiefs host the Pittsburgh Steelers in a rematch of last season's frigid, field-goal-filled AFC Divisional Round contest.
Other injury news we're tracking on this Week 6 Thursday:
- Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly听 during the second quarter of Thursday's game against the Eagles. Running back Fozzy Whittaker听also left early when he was carted to the locker room with an ankle injury in the first quarter. He was shown on camera during the second half wearing a protective boot on his right foot while on crutches on the sideline.
- Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jordan Hicks suffered an ankle injury against the Panthers and didn't return to the game. Safety Chris Maragos left in the fourth quarter after suffering a knee injury.
- Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (shoulder) and tight end Rob Gronkowski (thigh) were upgraded from Wednesday non-participants to limited participants on Thursday, .
- Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (knee), receiver Stefon Diggs (groin), safety Andrew Sendejo (shoulder) and guard Nick Easton (calf) did not practice on Thursday, .
- Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (shoulder) will practice Thursday and Saturday, per Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star, and offered a little context on how he's feeling:
- Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long (ankle) did not practice Thursday, . Linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (chest), receiver Markus Wheaton and corner Marcus Cooper (back) were all limited.
- Giants linebacker Jonathan Casillas (neck), safety Landon Collins (ankle), running back Paul Perkins (ribs), center Weston Richburg (concussion), wide receiver Sterling Shepard (ankle) and defensive end Olivier Vernon (ankle). Defensive end Romeo Okwara was limited.
- Jets running back Matt Forte (turf toe) and defensive end Kony Ealy (shoulder) were limited in practice Thursday, .
- Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah and guard T.J. Lang returned to practice Thursday, , leaving linebacker Paul Worrilow (knee) as the only non-participant.
