Musical chairs for Chiefs’ tight ends: Jody Fortson placed on IR, Blake Bell activated
For the second straight year, Chiefs tight end Jody Fortson’s season is ending on injured reserve.
The Chiefs placed Fortson (elbow) on the reserve/injured list with three games remaining in the 2022 regular season, starting with Saturday’s home game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Fortson, placed on IR last season with an Achilles injury, must spend a minimum of four weeks on injured reserve now before he’s eligible to return, meaning he could technically be back at some point during the playoffs.
A fan favorite, Fortson finishes the 2022 regular season with nine catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Six of his nine catches this season resulted in a first down.
With Fortson out, the Chiefs made the expected corresponding move of activating another backup tight end — Wichita native Blake Bell — from the reserve/injured list to their 53-player roster.
Bell, placed on injured reserve with a hip injury to start the season, provides depth behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray. Bell could be involved in the Chiefs’ three-tight end sets.
In other roster-related news, the Chiefs used a standard practice-squad elevation on defensive tackle Danny Shelton. The move comes with defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (illness) doubtful for Saturday’s noon game against the Seahawks at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Friday’s transactions also signal that wide receiver Mecole Hardman (abdomen) won’t be available against the Seahawks, an eventuality to which Chiefs coach Andy Reid alluded Thursday.
“I’m not sure he’s where he needs to be,” Reid said. “But we’ll talk to him and we’ll just see.”
