As the Chiefs gear up for the ‘25 season under HC Andy Reid, the weight of anticipation is met with a sobering reality check. Imagine a finely tuned orchestra suddenly missing a key instrument, its harmony disrupted, its rhythm offbeat. That’s the situation unfolding in Chiefs camp just when they were all set to put on the pads and practice. The Chiefs were all-in this offseason with Patrick Mahomes to flip the script on last year’s defeat. The receiving corps was back in prime health, and the depth chart competition was rising higher than ever. But with a plot-twist, injuries are piling up, again, and hitting the TE room this time.

Heading into the training camp, Reid had noted that CB Kristian Fulton, RB Jawaan Taylor, and rookie TE Tre Watson were all going to stay on the sidelines for a while. As the pads went on, Taylor and Watson joined back in the fray. While Fulton was still on the PUP list, another name signaled alarm bells. Rookie TE Jake Briningstool wasn’t practicing. For a guy who got a chunk of the spotlight at the start of camp, his absence raised all the more questions. And now, Andy Reid has answered those questions.

As Pete Sweeney reported on X, “Andy Reid said Jake Briningstool didn’t practise with a hamstring strain. Reid added Kristian Fulton is recovering from cleanup surgery (knee) in the spring. Omarr Norman-Lott tweaked his ankle but returned to practise.” Briningstool was all set to compete for the No. 3 TE spot behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray. But with this latest injury update, that spot seems to be slipping away. For now, Briningstool has been working on the sidelines with the rest of the PUP squad. As Matt Foster shared a photo of Briningstool on X, the TE was notably wearing a compression sleeve on his left leg. While the rest of the crew ran drills with pads on, this stark contrast now throws his rookie campaign up in the air just days away from the preseason snaps.

Jake Briningstool had also been working through an injury at the OTAs and minicamps. Whether it’s the same hamstring injury or not still remains unconfirmed. For a while, it looked like Briningstool would fit in as a complementary piece to Travis Kelce. But now, his injury means that Andy Reid will be thinner at the TE position than he’d hoped, putting additional pressure on Kelce and the receiving corps. The Chiefs’ offensive scheme relies heavily on versatile TEs, who provide both blocking and dynamic connecting options for Patrick Mahomes. The stakes are high. Not just for the Chiefs’ immediate season aspirations, but for the legacy of one of the NFL’s most iconic TEs. For what could be his last season in the NFL, Travis Kelce continues to find himself in a whirl of shifting narratives around his future.

Travis Kelce’s upcoming 2026 twist?

After a remarkable career, including 10 Pro Bowl selections, Kelce’s decision to return for the 2025 season was met with both relief and speculation. Despite contemplating retirement following the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss to the Eagles, Kelce confirmed he is returning for 2025. He also noted that he will be aiming for a much better performance this season. Yet, the underlying tension remains. As NFL analyst Peter Schrager put it, “There was a point in time where Travis Kelce was considered a top 10 feared weapon in the league, but I don’t think he’s considered that way anymore.”

Kelce’s offseason and training camp have been marked with visible transformations. He reportedly lost nearly 25 pounds, signaling a fresh physical approach and renewed focus. He also distanced himself from girlfriend Taylor Swift during camp to fully concentrate on football. Kelce has also downplayed retirement rumors, focusing instead on what’s ahead: “We’ll deal with [2026] down the road, when the time is right. But right now, I’m focused on winning a championship this year.”

HC Andy Reid has also weighed in, but his responses are measured. “You hope he plays forever, but that’s probably not gonna happen to any of us. So whenever he decides to hang it up, he’s built a great legacy here. And if he decides this is it, it’s it. If not, more power to him.” But if this is not the final season in the Kelce chapter, there could be a plot-twist on the way. Nick Wright predicted a trade that could reunite Miami standout Tyreek Hill with his old team. “I told you guys a year ago that I’m very excited for Tyreek Hill wearing a Chiefs uniform in 2026. Because I think that’s going to happen. – And maybe that’s enough to get Kelce to come back for one more year.”

The combination of Mahomes, Hill and Kelce is surely enough to set the narrative of a near-guaranteed Super Bowl run. But it’s not happening right now. As both Wright and Kelce note, 2026 is far away. For now, the league will be eager to see how the Chiefs navigate an injured roster and climb their way back to the championship again.